Price,  Twenty-Five  Cents. 


T  H  23 


STEAMBOAT  AND  RAILROAD  4 


DESCRIBING  THE 

sffis.  Town 


PU08S  OF  txresesT 

NEW  YORK: 

PUBLISHED  BY  PHELPS  &  WATSON, 

16    BEEKIWAHf  STREET. 


» 


THE! 


STEAMBOAT  AND  RAILROAD 


Mil 


TO  THE 


Cm 


DESCRIBING  THE 


J2> 


PUCES  OF  INTEREST 

&£0H<i  tin  awgfs, 


NEW  YORK: 

PUBLISHED  BY  PHELPS  &  WATSON, 

16    BEER?IA\  STREET. 


PLACES  AND  DISTANCES  ON  THE  HUDSON  RIVER. 


Note — The  places  in  Roman  type  are  on  the  East  side  of  the  River;  in  italic,  on  the  West  nde. 
The  first  Column  of  figures  gives  the  distance  from  place  to  place,  the  second  the  total  distance  from 
New  York,  and  the  third  the  page  of"  the  Guide  describing  them. 


PLACE  S  . 


Hudson  River  

Hudson  River  Railroad,  Gen- 
eral Description  


York. 


Jersey  City  

Hoboken   

Weehawken  

Bull's  Ferry  

Manhattanville. . . , 

Carmansville  

Fort  Lee  

Tubby  Hook  

Spuyten  Duyvil. . , 

Yonkers  

Hastings  

Dobbs'  Ferry  

Piermont  

Irvington  

Tarrytown  

Nyack  

Sing  Sing  

Croton  

Cruger's  

Haverstraw  

Verplanck's  Point. 

Caldwell's  

Peekskill  

Anthony's  Nose. . . 

Garrison's  

West  Point  

Cold  Spring  

Cornwall  

Undercliff.  

Cro's  Nest  

Fishkill  


Dis- 
tances. 


PLACES 


Newburg  , 

New  Hamburg.  ) 

Hampton  . . .  ) 

Barnegat  ) 

Milton  Ferry  .   ) 

Poughkeepsie.  ) 

New  Paltz  J 

Hyde  Park  , 

Pelhant  , 

Staatsburg   

Rhinebeck  ) 

Rondout  > 

Kingston  ) 

Lower  Red  Hook  

Barrytown  

Tivoli  ) 

Saugerties  ) 

Maiden  

Germantown  

Oak  Hill  ) 

Catskill  ) 

Hudson  ) 

Athens  ) 

Stockport  

Coxsackie  

Stuyvesant  ) 

Kinderhook  Landing  ) 

New  Baltimore.  

Coeijmans  ) 

Schodack  j 

Castleton..-  

Greenbush  (East  Albany)  . .  ) 

Albany  ) 

Trov  ) 

West  Troy  J 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Map  of  New  York  City  chart 

Map  of  Hudson  River   " 

Railroad  Map  to  the  Great  West   " 

Birdseye  View  of  New  York,  from  Union  Square   " 

Map  of  the  Vicinity  of  New  York  '  page  5 

New  Amsterdam,  or  New  York,  in  1657   6 

View  at  Fort  Washington  Point   7 

View  at  Peekskill   14 

State  Prison  at  Sing  Sing   24 

View  of  Croton  Dam   26 

View  of  High  Bridge   28 

Jet  at  Harlem  River  ,   29 

View  at  Garrison's   35 

Undercliff   39 

Tunnel  of  New  Hamburg   43 

Catskill  Mountains,  from  Chatham   46 

View  of  Greenbush  station,  from  Albany   49 

Congress  Springs,  Saratoga  »   50 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Connives,  in  the  year  1857.  by  Humphrey  Phelps,  in  the  Clerk's  Office 
of"  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  in  and  for  the  Southern  District  of  N»  w  York 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


UDSON  RIVER,  in  many  points  of  view,  may 
be  considered  one  of  the  most  important  streams 
in  the  world.  It  cannot  vie  with  the  Mississippi, 
or  the  Ohio,  and  other  rivers,  either  in  size  or 
extent ;  but,  in  all  other  respects,  it  is  altogether 
their  superior.  For  steamboat  and  sloop  navigation,  stretching  as  it  does 
for  one  hundred  and  sixty  miles  inland,  through  a  rugged  chain  of  Highlands, 
and  carrying  tide  water  the  entire  distance,  it  is  certainly  unsurpassed. 

The  Hudson  rises  in  a  marshy  tract  in  Essex  county,  east  of  Long  Lake. 
Its  head  waters  are  nearly  four  thousand  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea. 
After  receiving  the  waters  of  the  Scroon  on  the  north,  and  the  Sacondaga, 
which  flows  from  Hamilton  county,  on  the  west,  it  turns  eastward  until  it 
reaches  the  meridian  of  Lake  Champlain,  where  it  suddenly  SAveeps  round  to 
the  southward,  and  continues  in  a  direct  course  to  New  York.  One  mile 
above  Troy  it  receives  the  Mohawk  River  on  the  west,  the  latter  being  the 
largest  stream  of  the  two  at  their  junction. 

The  entire  length  of  the  Hudson  is  three  hundred  and  twenty-five  miles. 
The  picturesque  beauty  of  its  banks,  —  forming  gentle  grassy  slopes,  z>r  covered 
with  forests  to  the  water's  edge,  or  crowned  by  neat  and  thriving  towns, 
now  overshadowing  the  water  with  tall  cliffs,  and  now  rising  in  mural  preci- 
pices,—  and  the  legendary  and  historical  interests  associated  with  numerous 
spots,  combine  to  render  the  Hudson  the  classic  stream  of  the  United  States. 
Ships  can  ascend  the  river  as  far  as  Hudson,  one  hundred  and  fifteen 
1* 


8 


HUDSON    RIVER  AND  RAILROAD. 


miles,  and  steamboats  and  sloops  to  Albany  and  Troy.  During  the  summer 
months,  the  water  is  covered  with  vessels  of  all  sorts  and  sizes,  ascending  or  de- 
scending the  stream,  from  the  canal  boat, — of 
which  great  numbers,  from  the  line  of  the  Erie 
canal,  and  entering  the  river  at  Albany,  are 
daily  towed  to  and  from  New  York.  —  to  the 
magnificent  steamers, 
for  which  this  river  for 
^  v  years  has  been  famous. 
The  width  of  the  river, 
for  twenty-five  miles 
above  New  York,  is 
about  one  mile.  Its 
west  bank,  for  nearly  this  whole  distance,  is  bounded  by  abrupt  precipices 
of  trap  rock,  termed  the  Palisades.  Beyond  these  there  is  an  expansion 
of  the  river  to  the  width  of  three  miles,  termed  Tappan  and  Haverstraw 
bays,  with  mountains  upon  the  western  shore  seven  hundred  feet  in  height. 
Passing  these  at  Verplanck's  Point,  forty  miles  above  New  York,  the 
Highlands  commence.  Here  the  river  is  contracted  into  narrow  limits,  and 
the  water  becomes  of  greater  depth.  This  mountainous  region,  about 
sixteen  miles  in  length,  may  be  considered  the  most  remarkable  feature  in 
the  Hudson  River  scenery.  The  course  of  the  stream  is  exceedingly  tor- 
tuous, and  the  hills  upon  both  sides  rocky  and  abrupt.  Above  these  High- 
lands the  country  subsides  into  but  a  fertile  hilly  region,  which  continues  for 
one  hundred  miles. 

Hudson  River  is  named  after  Henry  Hudson,  by  whom  it  was  discovered 
in  1609.  He  entered  the  southern  waters  of  New  York  on  the  3d  of  Sep- 
tember. Tradition  says  that  he  landed  upon  Long  Island  and  traded  with 
the  natives.  He  spent  a  week  south  of  the  Narrows  before  he  entered  the 
bay.  On  the  14th,  he  proceeded  up  the  river.  As  he  went  along,  he  all 
the  way  found  the  natives  on  the  west  shore  more  affable  and  friendly  than 
those  on  the  east,  and  discovered  that  those  on  one  side  were  at  war  with 
those  on  the  other.  In  his  journal  he  gives  the  following  account  of  his 
reception  upon  landing  at  Hudson,  the  place  which  now  bears  his  name :  — 

"  I  went  on  shore  in  one  of  the  canoes  with  an  old  Indian,  who  was  a 
ehief  of  forty  men  and  seventeen  women,  and  whom  I  found  in  a  house  made 
of  the  bark  of  trees,  which  was  exceedingly  smooth  and  well  finished  within 
and  all  round  about.  I  found  there  a  great  quantity  of  Indian  corn  and 
beans ;  indeed,  there  lay  to  dry,  near  the  house,  of  these  articles,  as  much  as 
would  load  three  ships,  besides  what  was  growing  in  the  field.  When  we 
came  to  the  house,  two  mats  were  spread  to  sit  on ;  and  immediately  eatables 
were  brought  to  us  on  red  wooden  bowls,  well  made ;  and  two  men  were  sent 
off  with  their  bows  and  arrows  to  kill  wild  fowl,  who  soon  returned  with  two 


HUDSON   RIVER   AND  RAILROAD. 


9 


pigeons.  They  also  killed  immediately  a  fat  dog,  and  in  a  very  little  time 
skinned  it  with  shells,  which  they  got  out  of  the  water.  They  expected  1 
would  have  remaine'd  with  them  through  the  night ;  but  this  I  did  not  care  to 
do,  and  therefore  went  on  board  the  ship  again.  It  is  the  finest  land  foi 
tilling  my  feet  ever  trod  upon,  and  bears  all  sorts  of  trees  fit  for  building 
vessels.  The*  natives  here  were  extremely  kind  and  good-tempered ;  for 
when  they  saw  that  I  was  making  ready  to  return  to  the  ship,  and  would  not 
stay  with  them,  judging  it  proceeded  from  my  fear  of  their  bows  and  arrows, 
they  took  and  broke  them  to  pieces,  and  then  threw  them  into  the  fire.  I 
found  grapes  growing  here  also,  and  plums,  pumpkins,  and  other  fruit.' ' 

It  must  not  be  forgotten  that  the  Hudson  River  was  the  theatre  of  the  first 
successful  attempt  to  apply  steam  power  to  the  propelling  of  vessels,  by  Fulton, 
in  1808,  less  than  half  a  century  ago!  Let  the  sceptic  stand  upon  the 
banks  of  the  river  now,  and  see  the  superb  and  swift  palaces  of  motion  shoot 
past,  one  after  the  other,  like  gay  and  chasing  meteors;  and  then  read  poor 
Fulton's  account  of  his  first  experiment,  and  never  throw  discouragement  on 
the  kindling  fire  of  genius. 

"  When  I  was  building  my  first  steamboat,"  said  he  to  Judge  Story,  "the 
project  was  viewed  by  the  public  at  New  York  either  with  indifference  or 
contempt,  as  a  visionary  scheme.  My  friends,  indeed,  were  civil,  but  they 
were  shy.  They  listened  with  patience  to  my  explanations,  but  with  a  settled 
cast  of  incredulity  on  their  countenances.  As  I  had  occasion  to  pass  daily  to 
and  from  the  building  yard  while  the  boat  was  in  progress,  I  often  loitered, 
unknown,  near  the  idle  groups  of  strangers  gathered  in  little  circles,  and 
heard  various  inquiries  as  to  the  object  of  this  new  vehicle.  The  language 
was  uniformly  that  of  scorn,  sneer,  or  ridicule.  The  loud  laugh  rose  at  my 
expense ;  the  dry  jest,  the  wise  calculation  of  losses  and  expenditure ;  the 
dull  but  endless  repetition  of  '  The  Fulton  Folly.''  Never  did  a  single  en- 
couraging remark,  a  bright  hope,  or  a  warm  wish,  cross  my  path. 

M  At  length  the  boat  was  finished,  and  the  day  arrived  when  the  trial  wa9 
to  be  made.  To  me  it  was  a  most  trying  and  interesting  occasion.  I  invited 
many  friends  to  go  on  board  and  witness  the  first  successful  trip.  Many  of 
them  did  .me  the  honor  to  attend,  as  a  matter  of  personal  respect ;  but  it  wa3 
manifest  they  did  it  with  reluctance,  feigning  to  be  partners  of  my  mortifica- 
tion, and  not  of  my  triumph.  I  was  well  aware  that,  in  my  case,  there  were 
many  reasons  to  doubt  my  success.  The  machinery  was  new,  and  ill  made 
and  many  parts  of  it  were  constructed  by  mechanics  unacquainted  with  such 
work ;  and  unexpected  difficulties  might  reasonably  be  presumed  to  present 
themselves  from  other  causes.  The  moment  arrived  in  which  the  word  waa 
to  be  given  for  the  vessel  to  move.  My  friends  stood  in  groups  on  the  deck. 
I  read  in  their  looks  nothing  but  disaster,  and  almost  repented  of  my  efforts. 
The  signal  was  given,  and  the  boat  moved  on  a  short  distance,  and  then 
stopped  and  became  immovable.    To  the  silence  of  the  preceding  moment. 


10 


HUDSON   RIVER   AND  RAILROAD. 


now  succeeded  murmurs  of  discontent  and  agitation,  and  whispers,  and 
shrugs.  I  elevated  myself  on  a  platform,  and  stated  that  I  knew  not  what 
was  the  matter ;  but  if  they  would  be  quiet,  and  indulge  me  for  half  an  hour, 
I  would  either  go  on,  or  abandon  the  voyage.  I  went  below,  and  at  once 
discovered  that  a  slight  mal-adjustment  was  the  cause  of  the  stopping.  It 
was  obviated,  and  the  boat  went  on ;  we  left  New  York ;  we  passed  through 
the  Highlands ;  we  reached  Albany.  Yet,  even  then,  imagination  superseded 
the  force  of  fact.  It  was  doubted  if  it  could  be  done  again,  or  if  it  could  be 
made,  in  any  case,  of  any  great  value." 

What  an  affecting  picture  of  the  struggles  of  a  great  mind,  and  what  a 
vivid  lesson  of  encouragement  to  genius,  are  contained  in  this  simple  narrative  ! 
If  Fulton  and  his  then  doubting  friends  could  witness  now  the  triumphs  of 
steam  on  the  Hudson  and  the  Mississippi,  the  Granges,  the  Indus,  the  Thames, 
the  Tigris,  the  Nile,  and  across  the  broad  bosoms  of  the  three  great  oceans, 
how  different  would  be  the  sensations  of  both  from  those  by  which  they  were 
animated  on  the  first  experimental  voyage  ! 


HUDSON  RIVER  RAILROAD. 

The  project  of  building  a  railroad  along  the  banks  of  Hudson  River,  from 
New  York  to  Albany,  was,  for  a  long  time,  deemed  visionary,  and  unworthy 
of  consideration.  It  was  argued  and  believed  that,  even  if  a  road  could  be 
built  through  the  Highlands,  at  anything  like  a  reasonable  expense,  it  could 
never  compete  with  the  river  steamboats,  noted  as  they  were  for  elegance, 
safety,  and  speed.    But  the  fallacy  of  this  belief  has  been  plainly  shown. 

Two  important  considerations,  above  all  others,  have  tended  to  convince 
the  public  that  a  railroad  along  the  Hudson  was  necessary,  and  ought  to  be 
built.  One,  and  by  far  the  greatest,  is  found  in  the  fact  that  during  the 
winter  months,  averaging  from  90  to  100  days  of  each  year,  the  river  is 
closed  by  the  ice ;  and  it  proved  a  serious  inconvenience,  to  say  the  least,  for 
a  channel,  through  which  from  one  and  a  half  to  two  millions  of  passengers 
were  conveyed  in  the  summer  months,  to  be  closed  for  the  remainder  of  the 
year.  The  other  was  the  simple  saving  of  time  upon  the  way.  The  com- 
parative merits  of  the  two  modes  of  conveyance  it  does  not  become  us  to  dis- 
cuss. Both  will  have  their  supporters  and  favorites,  and  both  will  unques- 
tionably be  forever  open  to  the  public  during  two  thirds  of  each  year.  In 
the  winter,  when  the  river  is  closed,  the  railroad  must  do  all  the  business, 
both  in  passengers  and  freights,  and  no  person  can  doubt,  that,  although  it  is 
now  immense,  the  superior  facilities  of  transit  opened  by  the  railroad  will 
tend  to  increase  it  beyond  all  precedent. 

The  entire  length  of  the  Hudson  River  Railroad,  from  Chamber  street  to 


HUDSON    RIVER  AND 


RAILROAD, 


11 


Albany,  is  one  hundred  and  forty-three  miles  and  a  quarter.  As  a  general 
feature,  the  road  is  constructed  directly  along  the  banks  of  the  river,  five  feet 
above  high  tides.  A  proper  degree  of  directness  is  maintained,  and  the  sin- 
uosities of  the  stream  avoided,  by  cutting  through  the  projecting  points  of 
land,  and,  when  necessary,  throwing  the  line  a  short  distance  into  shal- 
low water ;  protecting  the  embankment  from  the  action  of  the  waves  by  a 
secure  wall.  Nearly  one  half  of  the  whole  length  of  the  road  is  thus  protected. 
At  Verplanck's  Point,  forty  miles  from  New  York,  the  track  is  nearly  two 
miles  from  the  river,  but  in  no  other  place  does  it  vary  as  much  as  one  mile 
from  the  water's  edge. 

The  grades  of  the  road,  considering  the  obstacles  surmounted,  are  aston- 
ishingly regular.  Of  the  whole  distance,  one  hundred  and  fourteen  miles  are 
upon  a  dead  level,  five  miles  from  one  to  five  feet  per  mile,  thirteen  miles  of 
ten  feet  per  mile,  and  five  miles  of  thirteen  feet  per  mile  inclination,  which  is 
the  heaviest  grade  upon  the  road.  The  total  rise  and  fall  is  two  hundred  and 
thirteen  feet  only.  The  shortest  curve  is  at  Peekskill  station.  This  is  of 
one  thousand  feet  radius.  Besides  this,  there  are  no  curves  less  than  two 
thousand  feet  radius,  while  more  than  one  half  of  the  whole  number  are  from 
four  to  ten  thousand  feet  radius.  The  whole  number  of  curves  is  two  hun- 
dred and  seventy-nine,  there  being  fifty-eight  and  a  half  miles  of  curved  line. 

The  rock  excavation  upon  the  road,  as  the  fact  of  its  following  the  banks 
of  the  river  so  closely  would  lead  any  one  to  suppose,  has  been  immense.  The 
total  amount  of  rock-cuttings  will  not  vary  much  from  two  millions  of  cubic 
yards.  On  the  "  Highland"  division  alone,  (Peekskill  to  Fishkill,  a  distance 
of  sixteen  miles,)  over  four  hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand  cubic  yards 
of  rock  were  excavated. 

There  are  eight  tunnels  upon  the  line,  between  New  York  and  Pough- 
keepsie,  as  follows  :  — 

1.  At  Oscawana,  or  Peg's  Island,    .    .    .    225  feet  in  length. 

2.  Abbott's  Point,  (Bridge  Tunnel,)    .    .    100    "  "  " 


3.  Flat  Rock   70  "  " 

4.  St.  Anthony's  Nose,   400  "  " 

5.  Garrison's,  at  Phillips'  Hill   900  "  " 

6.  Breakneck  Hill,   400  "  " 

7.  New  Hamburg,   1400  "  " 

8.  Milton  Ferry,   100  "  " 

Total   3595 


All  the  above  tunnels  are  through  solid  rock,  and  are  twenty-four  fee 
wide,  and  eighteen  feet  high.  The  rock  is  so  hard  that  it  fosms  the  arch  of 
the  tunnels  in  all  cases  except  for  a  part  of  the  one  -at  Breakneck  Hill. 
Here  the  appearance  of  the  rock  rendered  it  probable,  in  the  mind  of  the 


12 


HUDSON    RIVER   AND  RAILROAD. 


engineer,  that  it  might  crumble  on  being  exposed  to  the  atmosphere,  and 
a  brick  lining  was  constructed  for  the  purpose  of  preventing  the  loose 
^tone  from  falling  upon  the  track.  Besides  the  above  tunnels,  of  natural 
rock,  there  are  two  constructed  of  brick  at  the  Sing  Sing  prison  yard. 

There  are  but  two  tunnels  above  Poughkeepsie  ;  Kelley's  tunnel,  be- 
low Rhinebeck,  145  feet  long,  and  Garretson's  tunnel,  above  that  place, 
82  feet.    There  are  90  bridges  on  the  line  of  the  road,  ten  of  which 
are  drawbridges.    The  road  is  laid  with  a  double  track  to  Poughkeep 
sie ;  and  in  sections  one  third  the  distance  above. 

The  whole  amount  expended,  or  the  Hudson  River  Railroad,  with  its 
equipment  of  locomotives,  cars,  station-houses,  and  machine-shops,  has 
been  over  $12,700,000.  Of  this  sum  $3,758,000  consists  of  stock, 
the  balance  has  been  mostly  obtained  by  the  issue  of  mortgage  bonds. 

The  first  section  of  the  road  was  opened  for  the  transportation  of 
passengers,  from  New  York  to  Peekskill,  a  distance  of  forty  miles,  on 
the  29th  of  September,  1849.  On  the  6th  of  December  following,  an 
additional  section  of  twenty-three  miles,  extending  to  New  Hamburg, 
was  opened.  On  the  first  of  January,  1850,  nine  miles  more  were 
brought  into  use,  completing  the  lower  half  of  the  road,  and  connecting 
Poughkeepsie  with  the  City  of  New  York  by  the  iron  bands,  thus  re- 
ducing the  distance  between  these  cities  to  two  hours.  In  July  follow 
ing,  Hudson,  forty  miles  beyond,  was  greeted  with  the  whistle  of  the 
locomotive,  and  on  the  8th  of  October,  1851,  the  first  passenger  train 
passed  over  the  entire  distance  of  141  miles  between  31st  street.  New 
York,  and  Greenbush,  in  3  hours  and  55  minutes,  including  stops. 

One  characteristic  of  this  road  deserves  especial  mention.  We  refer 
to  the  system  of  signal  flags,  introduced  to  secure  safety  from  accidents 
in  running  the  trains.  Flagmen  are  stationed  upon  every  mile  of  the 
road,  generally  at  the  curves,  or  upon  a  slight  acclivity,  where  a  view 
of  the  track  for  some  distance  can  be  had.  Upon  the  approach  of  a 
train,  if  all  is  clear  ahead,  the  flagman  displays  a  white  signal.  If  there 
be  any  obstruction  in  sight,  or  a  diminished  speed  be  required  for  any 
cause,  a  red  flag  is  displayed.  During  the  intervals  between  the  trains 
these  men  daily  examine  the  road,  to  see  that  all  is  secure.  If  a  chair 
be  broken,  a  rail  loose,  or  a  spike  drawn,  the  evil  is  at  once  corrected 
and  thus  the  road  is  kept  in  perfect  repair. 

Commencing  at  the  principal  city  station,  at  the  junction  of  Chamber 
and  Hudson  streets,  the  track  is  laid  through  Hudson,  Canal,  and  West 
streets,  to  Tenth  avenue,  which  it  follows  to  the  upper  city  station,  at 
Thirty-first  street.  Over  this  part  of  the  route  the  rails  lay  even  with 
the  streets,  the  cars  being  drawn  by  horses  to  Thirty-first  street,  where 
the  road  curves  into  Eleventh  avenue,  and  the  locomotive  tajies  the  train. 
Passing  Manhattanvflle  and  Carmansville,  the  first  obstacle  of  impor- 


HUDSON   RIVER   AND  RAILROAD. 


fcance  was  the  heavy  rock-cutting  at  Fort  Washington  Point,  nine  miles  above 
the  city.  This  excavation  is  in  solid  rock  *  fifty-six  feet  deep  at  the  highest 
point,  and  one  hundred  rods  in  length.  The  rock  taken  from  this  cut 
amounted  to  nearly  fifty  thousand  cubic  yards.  It  was  used  to  construct  the 
protection  wall  near  this  place.  From  this  point,  suspended  from  high  poles, 
to  the  high  ground  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  are  the  various  telegraph 
lines  which  extend  south  from  New  York.  These  were  at  first  sunk  in  the 
stream,  but  they  received  so  much  damage  from  the  anchors  of  vessels  navi- 
gating the  river,  tj?at  it  was  found  necessary  to  suspend  them,  in  this  manner, 
out  of  the  reach  of  danger. 

Twelve  miles  from  the  city,  the  line  crosses  Spuyten  Duyvel  Creek.  Here 
is  a  draw-bridge  to  allow  vessels  which  navigate  the  river  to  pass  into  the 
creek,  and  also  several  hundred  feet  of  pile  bridge  to  allow  the  free  passage 
of  water  in  and  out  of  the  bay.  Spuyten  Duyvel  Creek  falls  into  what  is 
called  Harlem  River,  and  separates  Manhattan,  or  New  York  Island,  from 
the  main  land. 

From  this  point  the  line  proceeds  along  close  to  the  river,  passing  Yonkers, 
Hastings',  Dobbs'  Ferry,  Tarrytown,  to  Sing  Sing.  This  part  of  the  line  is  level. 
•At  Sing  Sing  the  road  passes  through  the  yard  of  the  State  Prison,  directly  in 
rear  of  the  main  building.  The  track  is  several  feet  below  the  yard.  Two 
arches  of  brick,  of  twenty-four  feet  span  and  six  hundred  feet  in  length,  are 
here  constructed,  one  upon  .each  side  of  the  yard,  for  the  purpose  of  render- 
ing it  secure. 

A  short  distance  above  Sing  Sing,  the  road  crosses  the  bay  formed  by  the 
junction  of  the  Croton  and  Hudson  rivers.  The  distance  across  is  about  one 
mile.  A  draw-bridge  is  here  constructed  ;  the  remaining  part  of  the  distance 
being  partly  well  protected  embankments,  and  partly  pile  bridge. 

The  line  now  crosses  Teller's  Point,  a  narrow  neck  of  land  extending  more 
than  half  way  across  the  river,  and  dividing  Tappan  and  Haverstraw  Bays, 
so  called ;  the  former  being  below,  and  the  latter  above,  this  point.  Here 
there*  is  an  extensive  excavation  through  sand  and  gravel  for  nearly  half  a 
mile.  More  than  four  hundred  thousand  cubic  yards  of  earth  were  removed 
from  this  cutting.  Passing  this,  the  track  follows  again  close  upon  the  banks 
of  the  river  to  Oscawana  Island,  where  the  first  tunnel  through  solid  rock  is 
passed.  Half  a  mile  above  this,  the  road  takes  a  curve  inland,  to  avoid 
Verplanck's  Point.  Here  there  is  some  heavy  rock  cutting,  and,  to  accom- 
modate the  road  to  a  brick-yard  near  at  hand,  another  short  tunnel  was  made. 

Between  this  point  and  Peekskill  station  the  road  makes  its  greatest 
divergence  from  the  river ;  and,  at  the  highest  point,  passes  over  a  summit 
of  34  feet,  by  a  rising  and  falling  inclination  of  13  feet  per  mile. 

At  Peekskill,  between  the  42d  and  43d  miles,  the  line  curves  to  the  left 
more  than  a  quarter  of  a  circle.  A  little  north  of  the  village  it  is  carried 
across  the  bay,  at  the  mouth  of  Peekskill  Creek,  a  distance  of  three  quarters 


14  HUDSON   RIVER   AND  RAILROAD. 


» 


HUDSON    RIVER   AND    RAILROAD.  15 

of  a  mile ;  part  of  the  distance  by  a  pile  bridge  eight  hundred  feet  in  length, 
with  draw  for  vessels,  &c,  and  the  remainder  by  embankment.  At  this 
point  the  Highland  division  commences.  Two  miles  north  of  Peekskill  is 
the  third  tunnel  upon  the  line,  which  is  denominated  Flat  Kock  tunnel; 
and  within  another  mile  the  line  passes  through  the  projecting  point  of 
Anthony's  Nose,  by  a  fourth  tunnel,  with  heavy  and  extensive  rock  cutting 
it  each  exit. 

For  a  considerable  distance  along  the  Highlands,  the  mountains  have  an 
olevation  of  from  one  thousand  to  fifteen  hundred  feet,  and  shut  down  close 
to  the  water's  edge.  In  many  places  the  road  is  formed  by  cutting  a  large 
portion  or  even  the  whole  of  its  width  into  the  rock,  leaving  a  perpendicular 
natural  wall  upon  the  east  side,  from  ten  to  thirty,  and  even  forty,  feet  high. 
In  one  case,  six  miles  above  Peekskill,  where  the  road  is  formed  across  the 
outlet  of  a  small  brook,  much  trouble  was  occasioned  by  the  sinking  of  the 
I'.mbankment.  Several  months  after  this  portion  was  graded  and  ready  for 
the  rails,  and  a  portion  of  the  track  was  laid,  while  passing  over  it  with  a 
norse  and  car-load  of  rails,  the  embankment  for  more  than  a  hundred  feet 
went  down  so  suddenly  that  the  horse,  car,  and  rails  were  overwhelmed,  and 
two  men  on  the  car  escaped  with  difficulty.  It  is  now  constructed  upon  piles, 
and  rendered  secure.  Similar  difficulties,  though  less  important,  occurred  at 
five  different  points  between  Peekskill  and  West  Point. 

The  elevated  ground  opposite  "West  Point,  at  Phillips'  Hill,  is  passed  by 
a  tunnel  nine  hundred  feet  long,  being  the  fifth  upon  the  road.  Emerging 
from  this,  to  avoid  a  sudden  bend  in  the  river,  the  line  is  carried  across  a  sort 
of  bay,  by  a  pile  bridge  nearly  a  mile  in  length,  and  extending  more  than 
one  third  of  the  distance  across  the  stream.  On  reaching  the  shore  it  inter- 
sects a  short  branch  built  for  the  accommodation  of  the  iron  works  at  Cold 
Spring.  The  road  passes  directly  through  the  village  of  Cold  Spring,  where 
two  formidable  rock  cuts  were  encountered. 

From  this  point  to  Breakneck  Hill  the 
road  is  nearly  straight,  notwithstanding  the 
numerous  bays  in  the  river,  and  the  rocky 
projections  from  the  hills,  presenting  obsta- 
cles which  seem  to  bid  defiance  to  the  skill 
of  the  engineer. 

At  Breakneck,  the  road  passes  the  sixth 
tunnel,  and  follows  along  close  to  the  water, 
crossing  Fishkill  Creek,  in  rear  of  Dennings' 
Point.  Here  the  Highlands  end.  North  of 
the  creek  is  a  cutting  in  blue  clay,  more  diffi- 
cult to  excavate,  in  some  respects,  than  the  hard  rock  cuts. 

North  of  Wappinger's  Creek,  which  is  crossed  by  a  pile  bridge  at  the 
village  of  New  Hamburg,  the  road  encounters  a  ridge  of  limestone  rock,  very 
2 


lb 


HUDSON   RIVER   AND  RAILROAD. 


hard  and  compact.  Here  it  was  necessary  to  construct  a  tunnel  of  consider- 
able length,  the  seventh  upon  the  line.  To  expedite  the  work,  two  shafts 
were  sunk,  one  seventy-two  feet  from  the  surface  of  the  ground,  the  other  to 
the  depth  of  fifty-three  feet.  A  large  portion  of  the  tunnel  excavation  was 
drawn  up  through  these  shafts  by  steam  power ;  and  the  water,  which  at 
some  periods  was  troublesome,  was  disposed  of  in  the  same  way.  The  eighth 
tunnel  is  about  one  mile  north  of  Milton  Ferry. 

At  Poughkeepsie  the  line  passes  through  the  lower  part  of  the  place,  all 
the  roads  leading  to  the  river  being  carried  over  the  railroad.  North  of  this 
station  are  two  heavy  sections.  Indeed,  of  the  twenty-six  miles  extending 
from  Poughkeepsie  to  Tivoli,  the  north  line  of  Duchess  county,  seven  are 
rock  cuttings.  A  line  was  originally  surveyed  from  Poughkeepsie  to  Albany, 
passing  through  the  country  away  from  the  river,  in  some  places  being  as 
much  as  seven  miles  distant ;  but,  for  various  reasons,  it  was  abandoned. 

Above  Tivoli,  with  one  or  two  inconsiderable  exceptions,  the  road  follows 
close  to  the  river  the  whole  remaining  distance  to  Greenbush.  As  a  general 
thing,  the  track  is  five  feet  above  high  tide-water,  and  very  few  exoavations 
or  other  works  are  of  sufficient  importance  to  deserve  especial  notice.  At 
Greenbush  the  track  is  united  to  that  of  the  "  Troy  and  Greenbush"  road, 
six  miles  in  length,  which  has  been  leased  to  the  Hudson  River  Company 
for  a  term  of  years. 

The  Hudson  River  Railroad  is  probably  one  of  the  very  best  constructed 
roads  in  America.  The  road  bed,  generally,  is  thirty  feet  wide  at  the  top ; 
the  protection  wall  three  feet  in  thickness,  and  carried  five  feet  above  ordinary 
high  tides ;  the  rails  weigh  seventy  pounds  per  yard,  and  the  outer  rail,  in 
all  cases  of  exposure  to  the  river,  is  ten  feet  from  the  top  of  the  wall,  afford- 
ing a  wide  margin  for  the  washing  of  the  bank,  and  ample  security  against 
running  the  cars  into  the  water  in  cases  of  accident.  The  time  occupied  in 
running  the  trains  between  New  York  and  Albany  is  four  to  five  hours. 


HUDSON    RIVER   AND    RAILROAD.  IT 


CITIES,  TOWNS,  AND  VILLAGES  UPON 
HUDSON  RIVER. 

New  York  is  the  largest,  most  wealthy,  most  flourishing  of  American 
cities ;  the  great  commercial  emporium  of  the  United  States,  and  one  of  the 
greatest  in  the  world.  The  compact  portion  of  the  city  is  built  upon  the 
southern  end  of  Manhattan  Island,  and  now  extends  to  Fourteenth  street, 
which  is  the  first  street,  as  you  proceed  northwardly,  that  runs  in  a  straight 
line  quite  across  the  island.  The  distance  from  the  Battery  to  this  point  lis 
nearly  three  miles.  Above  this,  for  at  least  two  miles  further,  the  space  is 
rapidly  being  filled  up  by  elegant  dwelling-houses. 

No  city  in  the  world  possesses  greater  advantages  for  foreign  commerce 
and  inland  trade.  In  addition  to  the  main  sea  approach  through  the  Narrows 
to  the  harbor,  the  channel  through  East  River  to  Long  Island  Sound,  and  the 
Hudson  River,  two  long  lines  of  canals  have  increased  its  natural  advantages, 
and  connected  it  with  the  remote  west ;  and  have  rendered  it  the  great  mart 
of  a  vast  region,  now"  occupied  by  industrious  millions;  while  its  railroad 
facilities  of  communication  with  every  quarter  have  made  it  the  great  mer- 
cantile centre  of  the  nation.  Its  progress  in  population,  trade,  and  wealth, 
has  probably  never  been  equalled.  In  1800,  the  population  was  but  60,000  ; 
while,  by  the  late  census,  it  was  found  to  be  630,000. 

Manhattan  Island  is  fourteen  miles  in  length,  and  averages,  perhaps,  one 
and  a  half  miles  in  breadth.  Its  greatest  breadth  is  at  Eighty-sixth  street, 
and  is  two  miles  and  a  quarter.  Hudson  River  bounds  it  upon  the  west, 
East  River  on  the  east,  while  on  the  north  it  is  separated  from  the  main  land 
by  Harlem  River  and  Spuyten  Duyvel  Creek.  In  its  natural  state  the  sur- 
face was  somewhat  hilly  and  marshy,  but  these  inequalities  have  been 
.educed  to  an  almost  complete  level  in  that  portion  occupied  by  the  city,  the 
ground  having  merely  a  gentle  slope  on  each  side  towards  the  water.  The 
highest  pqint  upon  the  island  is  near  Fort  Washington,  being  about  238  feet 
above  the  river. 

The  harbor,  or  bay  of  New  York,  as  it  is  called,  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the 
world ;  safe,  commodious,  and  rarely  obstructed  by  the  ice.  It  is  twenty-five 
miles  in  circumference,  easy  of  access,  completely  sheltered  from  storms,  and 
of  sufficient  size  and  depth  of  water  to  contain  the  united  navies  of  the  world. 
The  principal  entrance  between  Staten  and  Long  Islands  is  about  half  a  mile 
wide,  and  well  defended  by  strong  fortifications.  There  are  also  batteries  on 
several  other  islands,  further  up  the  bay.  The  variegated  scenery  upon  its 
shores,  together  with  the  neatly  built  cottages,  the  country  seats  of  opulent 
citizens,  and  the  fine  view  of  the  city  in  approaching  from  the  "Narrows,' 
impart  to  this  harbor  a  beauty  probably  unsurpassed  by  that  of  any  other  in 
the  world. 


1*  HUDSOY  KITES.  AID   BAILED  AD. 


worth  of  Fourth  street,  containing  ■early  ten  acres  :  the  X.  Y.  Univer- 
sity faces  it. —  RmI  Squirt  lie-  between  Broadway  and  Fourth  avenue 
aJbove  Fosateentfc  street,  and  is  one  of  tbe  handsomest  parks  in  the  city  ; 
-=.:  :  -  ::  r  '  *ta::£*  :i-e  "-.  ror.ze  equestrian  *:.a*ue  of  Gen.  Washington. — 
A':.  :" : '.  3r:a.iway.  "Madison  aTenue.  and  23d  street,  is  st- 
randed by  elegant  mansions  and  cbnrcbes— The  great  Central  Pari: 

3t:ii':>??.  fcc. — The  city  of  Xew  York  can  rjoast  of  manj 
i'oirv    It  has  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  churches, 
.  are  r^ni£?eat  and  costly  stracrares.    Trinity  Church, 
E  ta  :  "p"lt.  l:  tie  bead  of  Wall  street  may  be  considered  the  mo=! 
5%      the  class  in  the  eitr.    It  is  "built  throughout  of  sandstone. 


HUD30X   BITER  iXD  EAILBOAD. 


19 


with  life  and  animation,  lies  at  tout  feet,  spread  oat  like  a  ca? :  w  -  rSe,  £lt 
and  wide,  in  every  direction,  the  country,  rirers,  vClages.  and  Mbnds,  are 
scattered  before  yon,  arrayed  in  all  the  attractions  with  which  nature  and  art 
nave  invested  them. 

The  City  i/ai7,oue  of  the  finest  buildings  in  New  York,  has  a  cmrrr  i^g 
situation  in  the  centre  of  the  Park,  and  shows  to  great  advantage.  It  is  k£k 
of  white  marble,  with  the  exception  of  the  rear  waD,  which  is  of  brown  tree- 
stone.  The  corner-stone  was  laid  in  1£03.  and  it  was  ten  years  in  ":<ialding. 
In  the  structure  are  twenty-eight  offices,  and  other  public  rooms,  the  principal 
of  which  is  the  Governor's  room,  a  splendid  apiranerii  a£pro-p*£sted  to  tb* 
use  of  that  functionary  on  his  visiting  the  city,  and  occasionally  to  that  of 
other  distinguished  individuals.  The  walls  of  this  rocm  are  eidheWiaiifil  with 
a  fine  collection  of  portraits  of  men  celebrated  in  the  naval.  ir"::z^rj,  m  civD 
history  of  the  country.  In  the  Common  Council  room  is  the  aienikal  chair 
occupied  by  Washington  when  President  of  the  first  American  Congress, 
which  assembled  here. 

The  Exchange,  on  Wall  street,  is  a  noble  braiding,  constructed  of  Quincy 
granite,  well  worth  a  visit  from  the  stranger.  It  is  built  upon  the  spot  occu- 
pied by  the  old  Exchange,  which  was  corssuined  by  the  great  ire  in  December, 
1835.  No  wood,  except  for  the  winfcw-lrames  and  doors,  is  used  in  this 
structure. 

The  Custom  House  is  also  upon  Wall  street.  It  is  built  of  white  marhls, 
similar  to  the  model  of  the  Parthenon  at  Athens,  It  is,  hke  the  Exchange, 
fire-proof. 

Besides  many  other  objects  within  the  ciry  worthy  of  notice,  visitors  will 
find  much  to  interest  them  in  the  immediate  vicinity.    New  York  is  con- 
neeted  with  the  neighboring  cities  and  villages  by  a  great  number  of  ferries,  on 
some  of  which  boats  run  the  entire  night.    Of  these,  no  less  than  six 
New  York  with  Brooklyn. 

Greenwood  Ckmetekt  is  in  the  south  part  of  Brooklyn,  at  Gcwan^s, 
three  miles  from  the  Fulton  ferry.  Cars  run  from  nearly  every  boa t  daring 
the  day  to  this  charming  spot,  carrying  passesgers  at  a  trifling  charge. 
|  This  cemetery  was  incorporated  in  1S3S.  and  contains  two  hundred  and 
forty-two  acres  of  ground,  about  one  half  of  which  is  covered  with  wood  of  a 
natural  growth.  It  originally  contained  but  one  hundred  and  seventy-two 
acres;  but  recently  seventy  more  have  been  purchased  and  brought  within  the 
enclosure.  Free  entrance  is  allowed  to  persons  on  foot  during  week  days,  but 
on  the  Sabbath  nose  but  proprietors  and  their  farnflinB  are  admitted.  The 
grounds  have  a  varied  surface  of  hills  and  valleys.  The  elevations  afford  beau- 
tiful and  extensive  views  of  New  York,  Brooklyn,  die  harbor,  Staten  Island, 
and  .Ae  distant  New  Jersey  highlands. 

Greenwood  is  traversed  by  winding  avenues  and  paths,  and  visitors,  bj 
eeping  the  maim  avenue,  called  The  Toe*,  as  indicated  by  the  guide-board^ 
2 


20 


HUDSON    RIVER  AND  RAILROAD. 


will  obtain  the  best  view  of  the  grounds  and  the  most  interesting  monuments. 
Unless  this  caution  is  observed,  they  may  not  easily  find  the  place  of  exit. 
This  delightful  spot  now  attracts  much  attention,  and  has  become  a  place  of 
great  resort. 

The  United  States  Navy  Yard,  at  Brooklyn,  will  attract  the  notice  of 
visitors  to  that  city.  It  is  situated  upon  the  south  side  of  Wallabout  Bay,  in 
the  north-east  part  of  the  city.  It  occupies  about  forty  acres  of  ground, 
enclosed  by  a  high  wall.  There  are  here  two  large  ship-houses  for  vessels  of 
the  largest  class,  with  workshops,  and  every  requisite  necessary  for  an  extensive 
naval  depot.    A  dry  dock  constructed  here  cost  about  one  million  of  dollars. 

At  the  Wallabout  were  stationed  the  prison-ships  of  the  English  during  the 
Revolutionary  war,  in  which  so  many  American  prisoners  perished  from  bad 
air,  close  confinement,  and  ill-treatment. 

Bockaway  Beach,  a  celebrated  and  fashionable  watering  place,  on  the 
Atlantic  sea-coast,  is  about  twenty  miles  south-east  of  New  York.  The  Ma- 
rine Pavilion,  a  splendid  hotel  erected  here  upon  the  beach,  a  short  distance 
from  the  ocean,  is  furnished  in  a  style  befitting  its  object  as  a  place  of  summer 
resort.  The  best  route  to  Bockaway  is  by  railroad  to  Jamaica,  thence  by 
stage. 

Fort  Hamilton,  one  of  the  fortifications  for  protecting  the  entrance  to  the 
bay  of  New  York,  is  situated  at  the  "  Narrows,"  seven  miles  from  the  city 
There  is  an  extensive  hotel  here  for  the  accommodation  of  visitors.  The 
Coney  Island  steamboat  stops  to  land  and  receive  passengers  here. 

Coney  Island  is  situated  at  the  extreme  south-west  point  of  Long  Island, 
four  miles  below  Fort  Hamilton.  A  narrow  inlet  separates  it  from  the  town 
of  Gravesend,  to  which  it  belongs.  Jt  has  a  fine  beach,  fronting  the  ocean,  and 
is  much  visited  during  the  hot  summer  months  for  sea-bathing.  A  steamboat 
plies  regularly  between  the  city  and  Coney  Island  during  the  summer. 

Two  railroads  only  extend  directly  into  New  York,  —  the  Hudson  Biver,  and 
the  Harlem,-^ the  former  of  which  has  its  passenger  station  in  Chambers  st. 
The  Harlem  road  extends  acioss  Manhattan  island,  crossing  the  river  at  Harlem, 
and  thence  follows  the  Bronx  Biver  to  Williams'  Bridge,  and  in  that  direction 
to  White  Plains,  Croton  Falls,  and  Dover.  It  runs  to  Albany  by  uniting 
with  the  Western  (Massachusetts)  road  at  Chatham  Corners.  At  Williams 
Bridge  the  New  Haven  road  begins,  extending  through  New  Haven,  Hartford, 
Springfield,  and  Boston,  eastwardly. 

Yokkville,  upon  the  Harlem  road,  five  miles  from  City  Hall,  is  a  small 
village,  one  of  the  suburbs  of  New  York.  ■  The  receiving  reservoir  is  about 
one  quarter  of  a  mile  from  this  place.  A  tunnel  through  Prospect  Hill,  a 
distance  of  five  hundred  feet,  was  necessary  to  enable  the  cars  to  run  to 
Harlem. 

Harlem,  eight  miles  from  City  Hall,  is  quite  a  manufacturing  place.  It 
was  founded  by  the  Dutch  in  1658,  with  a  vi^w  to  the  amusement  and  recre- 


HUDSON 


RIVER 


AND  RAILROAD. 


21 


ation  of  the  citizens.  What  was  then  a  rural  and  retired  spot,  will  soon  be 
but  a  part  of  the  city.* 

Jersey  City,  west  side  of  Hudson  River,  and  opposite  New  York,  is  con- 
nected with  it  by  a  ferry  over  a  mile  in  length,  the  boats  on  which  are  con- 
stantly plying.  Population,  20,000..  It  is  important  principally  as  a  diverg- 
ing point  between  the  north  and  the  south.  The  Philadelphia  Railroad 
station,  the  dock  for  the  Cunard  steamers,  and  the  Patterson  Railroad  station, 
are  in  Jersey  City.  Passengers  over  the  New  York  and  Erie  railroad, 
cross  the  river  from  Duane  street,  and  take  the  cars  at  Jersey  City,  for 
Buffalo,  Dunkirk,  and  the  West. 

The  Morris  Canal,  uniting  the  Delaware  River  at  Philipsburg  with  the 
Hudson,  terminates  here.  This  canalis  one  hundred  and  one  miles  in  length, 
and  cost  S2.-650.000. 

Hoboken,  directly  above  Jersey  City,  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  is  a 
popular  place  of  resort  by  the  citizens  of  New  York.  The  walks,  which  are 
shaded  by  large  trees,  extend  for  two  miles  along  the  banks  of  the  Hudson, 
terminating  with  the  Elysian  Fields.  From  the  heights,  a  short  distance 
from  the  stream,  there  is  a  beautiful  and  picturesque  view  of  New  York,  the 
bay,  and  the  hills  of  Long  Island,  in  the  distance.  Scattered  over  these 
gentle  acclivities  are  many  fine  villas  and  country-seats  of  opulent  citizens, 
which  give  the  place  an  air  of  rural  comfort  not  often  met  with  in  such  close 
proximity  to  a  large  city  A  little  above  this,  on  the  same  side,  is  Wee- 
hawkkx.  It  is  close  by  the  water's  edge,  and  screened  in  from  the  land 
view  by  a  precipitous  ledge  of  rocks,  which  gives  it  the  privacy  usually  sought 
for  in  such  places.  Here  it  was  that  the  well-known  General  Hamilton  fell 
in  a  duel  with  the  notorious  Colonel  Burr.  Their  quarrel  was  strictly  a 
political  one,  arising  from  some  expressions  used  by  the  former,  which  resulted 
in  a  challenge.  The  parties  met  on  the  11th  of  July,  1804.  At  the  first 
shot,  Hamilton  fell,  mortally  wounded.  He  was  taken  to  New  York,  where 
he  died  the  following  day,  aged  forty-seven  years.  There  was  formerly  a 
monument  standing  upon  the  spot  where  he  fell,  but  it  is  now  removed. 

Manhattan ville,'  7  miles  from  New  York,  is  the  first  station  upon  the 
Hudson  River  Railroad.  It  is,  in  fact,  but  a  part  of  the  city.  It  is  a  small 
but  thriving  village,  pleasantly  situated,  surrounded  by  hills.  About  half  a 
mile  distant,  upon  the  high  ground,  occupying  a  commanding  situation,  stands 
the  Lunatic  Asylum.  Attached  to  it  are  forty  acres  of  land,  neatly  arranged 
into  gardens  and  pleasure-grounds.  The  view  of  Hudson  River  and  the 
surrounding  country  from  this  place,  is  very  fine. 

Carmaxsvillk,  or  152d  street,  nine  miles,  is  the  next  station.  Like  the 
last-mentioned  place,  it  is  merely  one  of  the  suburbs  of  New  York.  The 
Hnyi  Bkidge.  so  called,  carrying  the  Croton  Aqueduct  across  Harlem  River, 
is  only  one  mile  from  this  station ;  and,  it  being  an  easy  and  retired  walk, 

*  See  Phelps'  Strangers  and  Citizens'  Guide  to  New  York,  for  fuller  particulars. 


22 


HUDSON    RIVER   AXD  RAILROAD. 


affords  a  cheap  and  pleasant  way  to  visit  that  noble  structure.  Trinity 
Church  Cemetery  is  located  here,  upon  the  side  hill,  overlooking  the  river. 

One  mile  above  Carmansville,  upon  the  top  of  a  projecting  point,  stands 
Fort  Washington.  It  occupies  a  commanding  situation.  It  was  held  by 
G-eneral  Washington  for  some  time  after  New  York  was  occupied  by  the 
British,  in  1776 ;  but  on  the  16th  of  November,  in  that  year,  it  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy,  after  a  violent  assault,  —  during  which  the  assailing  party 
lost  eight  hundred  men, — with  two  thousand  Americans,  under  Col.  Magaw, 
as  prisoners  of  war. 

Opposite  Fort  Washington,  upon  the  brow  of  the  Palisades,  and  three 
hundred  feet  above  the  river,  is  the  site  of  Fort  Lee.  Soon  after  Fort  Wash- 
ington was  captured,  this  also  was  given  up,  the  Americans  retiring  to  the 
jiighlands. 

At  Fort  Lee  the  Palisade  rocks  begin,  presenting,  all  along  on  the  west 
margin  of  the  river,  for  many  miles,  a  perpendicular  wall  of  rock;  varying  from 
two  to  five  hundred  feet  in  height.  These  are  sometimes  covered  with  brush- 
wood, sometimes  capped  with  stunted  trees,  and  sometimes  perfectly  bare ; 
but  always  showing  the  upright  cliff,  which  constitutes  the  most  striking 
feature.  At  the  foot  of  this  curious  wall  is  a  pile  of  broken  rocks  and  debris ; 
all  or  most  of  which  has  evidently  crumbled  away  from  the  face  of  the 
precipice.  Much  of  this  is  removed  every  year,  and  used  for  building  pur- 
poses. In  many  places  there  is  hardly  room  for  a  foot-path  on  the  shore  of 
the  river ;  while  here  and  there  the  space  is  considerable ;  and,  occasionally, 
a  fisherman's  hut  is  seen,  built  upon  the  very  margin  of  the  stream. 

The  name  Palisades  is  given  to  this  curious  cliff,  probably,  from  the  ribbed 
appearance  of  some  portions  of  it,  which  seem  like  rude  basaltic  columns,  oi 
huge  trunks  of  old  trees,  placed  close  together  in  an  upright  form,  for  a  bar- 
ricade or  defence.  The  water,  a  very  few  feet  from  the  shore,  is  deep,  being 
what  is  termed  a  "bold  shore,"  and  vessels  run  quite  close  to  the  cliffs. 
Any  one  who  has  visited  the  celebrated  West  Rock,  at  New  Haven,  Conn., 
will  at  once  associate  its  general  appearance  with  the  Palisades,  though  the 
character  and  extent  of  their  formation  are  entirely  different. 

Tubby  Hook,  eleven  miles.  This  station  is  situated  on  a  romantic  and 
secluded  spot,  near  the  northern  extremity  of  New  York  Island.  The 
proximity  of  this  location  to  the  city,  and  the  facilities  afforded  by  railroad 
for  passing  to  and  from  New  York,  must,  in  time,  make  this  a  very  pleasant 
and  desirable  country  residence,  though  at  present  there  are-very  few  dwell- 
ings in  the  neighborhood. 

Spuyten  Duyvel,  twelve  miles.  The  Creek  of  the  same  name,  which 
branches  from  the  Hudson  at  this  point,  Hows  into  Harlem  River,  and  forms 
Manhattan  Island.    There  is  a  draw  here,  but  very  few  vessels  ever  pas%  it. 

Yonkers,  in  the  town  of  the  same  name,  sixteen  miles  from  New  York,  is 
situated  at  the  mouth  of  Sawmill  River,  which  here  falls  into  the  Hudson. 


HUD30S   KITE*  A5P  RAILROAD. 


Li 


This  village  is  a  favorite  summer  retreat  from  the  city,  and  is  rapidly 
mereasing  in  population.  The  pleasantest  locations  are  upon  a  narrow 
plateau,  a  efaort  distance  from  die  river.  Tbe  line  of  the  Ctgu.il  Aque- 
duct bends  towards  tbe  Hudson  at  tins  place,  and  for  seventeen  miles 
Inflows  along  within  about  half  a  mile  of  the  river.  In  one  or  two  places  it 
is  leas  than  one  hundred  rods  distant.  Fordham  Heights  and  Tetard's  Hill, 
noted  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  are  in  this  town. 

Ha3tesgs\  twenty  miles,  situated  upon  die  line  between  Yonkers  and 


Greensburg,  is  the  next  station.  There 

a  thriving  village.  Two  miles  above  Yonkers,  the  Palisade  rocks  are 
and  about  opposite  Hastings'  they  recede  from  the  river  and  disappea] 
mU>  and  a  half  beyond  thiw  station  is 

Dobbs*  Fnuti,  an  important  point  during  the  Revolution,  wisen  a  I 
fiHtinliiiw  d  here.  It  is  a  place  of  considerable  resort  during  tbe  i 
Four  miles  above  Dobbs'  Ferry,  near  Tanytown,  is  "  Smgride;'  tl 
tifjl  residence  of  Washington  Irving.  The  villa  is  built  upon  the 
of  the  river,  with  a  neat  lawn  and  embeffished  grounds  surrounding 
can  be  seen  from  the  steamboats  in  pasang  up  or  dawn  the  livu. 

Piermont,  on  die  west  bank  of  the  Hudson,  is  the  ssarang-T>:<in- 
New  York  and  fide  Railroad,  for  freight.  A  pier  nearly  one 
length  extends  into  navigable  water,  and  a  ferry  connects  it  with  the 
River  at  Irvington  station.    Three  miles  and  a  half "wes 

village  of  Tappam,  celebrated  as  the  head-quarters  of  WaAmgtoa 
the  Revolution,  and  as  the  place  where  Major  Andre  was  executed, 
2,  1780.    [See  PeekskaL] 

Tj.2.ltt:  -s-y.  rwr-rr-six  miles  finm  Xew  York,  is  a  thriving  place, 
near  die  northern  boundary  of  Greensburg.  The  railroad  here  cuts  off  quite 
a  point  of  land  and  divides  the  village,  leaving  a  considerable  part  cf  h 
on  the  ode  next  to  the  river.  The  newly  bnQt  portion  is  on  a  snght  emi- 
nence east  of  the  raOroad,  and  partly  hid  from  view. 

Tarrytown  m  finned,  in  the  history  of  the  American  war,  as  the  place  where 
Andre  was  arrested  by  Pudding  and  his  amoculr.s  The  spc*.  which  is 
well  known,  is  about  half  a  mile  north  of  the  village,  on  the  west  side  of  tbe 
load,  near  a  small  stream  which  talk  into  the  Hudson,  near  as  hand.  Tbe 
of  Isaac  Yam  Wart,  one  of  the  three  captors,  are  deposited  under  a 
to  his  memory,  at  a  little  hamlet  of  Greensburg,  three  miles  east 
n£Tarrytown.    Hr  died  k  1828,  aged  69  yen* 

About  two  mfles  or  so  up  the  valley  of  the  small  stream  above  mentioned, 
sometimes  called  WBL  River,  is  die  place  known  as  Sleepy  Hollow,  the  scene 
of  Ichabod  Crane's  encounter  with  dm  "  Galloping  Hessian,"  so  graphically 
dinmJiul  by  Irving,  in  his  Legend  of  Sleepy  Hollow.  It  is  a  retired  spot, 
partly  overgrown  by  trees,  where  the  perfect  stillness  is  broken  only  by  die 
wsrbhng  of  dm  brook  which  runs  through  it*    Like  the  story  of  Rip  Tan 


24  HUDSON    RIVER  AND  RAILROAD. 

Winkle,  which  has  clothed  the  rugged  sides  of  the  Kaatskill  Mountains  with 
such  mysterious  interest,  this  legend  will  find  a  place  at  the  neighboring 
firesides  for  all  time  to  come. 

Nearly  opposite  Tarry  town,  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  is  the  village  of 
Nyach,  once  celebrated  for  its  quarries  of  red  sandstone.  The  village  is 
prettily  built  at  the  foot  of  a  high  cliff,  and  makes  a  picturesque  appearance' 
from  the  eastern  shore. 

Sing  Sing,  thirty-two  miles  from  New  York,  is  situated  partly  upon  ele- 
vated ground,  and  commands  a  beautiful  view  of  the  river  and  the  surrounding 
country.  At  this  place  are  several  extensive  marble  quarries.  A  mineral 
spring,  some  three  miles  east  of  the  village,  has  some  reputation  for  its  medicinal 
qualities,  and  a  large  boarding-house  was  erected  there  some  years  since. 

Mount  Pleasant  Academy,  for  boys,  is  at  Sing  Sing.  The  building  is  of 
Sing  Sing  marble,  and  stands  upon  one  of  the  most  retired  streets  of  the  vil- 
lage, commanding  an  extensive  prospect  of  the  river  and  adjacent  country. 
There  is  also  a  boarding-school  for  young  ladies  at  Sing  Sing,  elegantly  located. 


State  Prison  ut  Sing  Sing. 

The  principal  object  of  interest  here  is  the  State  Prison.  It  is  situated  upon 
the  bank  of  the  Hudson  River,  ten  feet  above  high  water  mark.  The  railroad 
runs  directly  through  the  prison  yard.  The  prison  grounds  comprise  one 
hundred  and  thirty  acres,  and  may  be  approached  by  vesseb  drawing  twelve 
feet  of  water.  The  keeper's  house,  workshop,  &c,  are  built  of  rough  "  Sing 
Sing  marble,"  quarried  from  lands  owned  by  the  state  in  the  vicinity.  The 
main  building  is  four  hundred  and  eighty-four  feet  in  length,  running  parallel 
with  the  river,  and  forty-four  feet  in  width.  It  is  five  stories  high,  with  two 
hundred  cells  upon  each  floor ;  in  all,  one  thousand  cells. 

The  system  and  discipline  of  this  prison  owe  their  origin  to  Elam  Lynds, 


HUDSON   RIVER   AND  RAILROAD. 


25 


for  many  years  agent  of  the  Auburn  prison.  The  convicts  are  shut  up  in  sepa- 
rate cells  at  night,  and  on  Sundays,  except  when  attending  religious  services 
in  the  chapel.  While  at  work,  they  are  not  allowed  to  exchange  a  word 
with  each  other,  under  any  pretence  whatever ;  nor  to  communicate  any  intel- 
ligence to  each  other  in  writing;  nor  to  exchange  looks,  or  winks,  or  to 
make  use  of  any  signs,  except  such  as  are  necessary  to  convey  their  wants 
to  the  waiters.  The  plan  of  confining  each  convict  in  a  separate  cell  during 
the  night,  or  the  "  Auburn  system,"  as  it  is  called,  was  adopted  at  the  Auburn 
prison  in  1824.  The  prison  at  that  time  contained  but  five  hundred  and 
fifty  cells.  Being,  therefore,  totally  insufficient  to  accommodate  all  the  con- 
victs of  the  state,  an  act  was  passed  by  the  Legislature,  authorizing  the  erection 
of  a  new  one.  Sing  Sing  was  selected  as  the  location,  and  Captain  Lynds  as 
agent  to  build  it.  He  was  directed  to  take  from. the  Auburn  prison  one  hun- 
dred convicts ;  to  remove  them  to  the  ground  selected  for  the  site  of  the  new 
prison ;  to  purchase  materials,  employ  keepers  and  guards,  and  to  commence 
the  construction  of  the  building.  *  The  reasons  for  taking  the  convicts  from 
Auburn,  and  transporting  them  so  great  a  distance,  instead  of  from  New 
York,  were,  that  the  convicts  at  the  former  place  had  been  more  accustomed 
to  cutting  and  laying  stone,  and  had  been  brought  by  Capt.  Lynds  into  the 
perfect  and  regular  state  of  discipline  he  had  established  there,  and  which 
was  indispensably  necessary  to  their  safe-keeping  in  the  open  country,  and 
the  successful  prosecution  of  the  work. 

The  party  arrived  at  Sing  Sing,  without  accident  or  disturbance,  in  May, 
1825,  without  a  place  to  receive  them,  or  a  wall  to  enclose  them.  A  tem- 
porary barrack  was  erected  to  receive  the  convicts  at  night,  and  they  were 
then  set  at  work  building  the  prison,  each  one  working  at  his  trade,  —  one  a 
carpenter,  another  a  mason,  &c,  —  all  the  time  having  no  other  means  to  keep 
them  in  obedience  but  the  rigid  enforcement  of  the  strict  discipline  adopted 
at  the  Auburn  prison.  For  four  years  the  convicts,  whose  numbers  were 
gradually  increased,  were  engaged  in  building  their  own  prison,  and  finally 
completed  it  in  1829.  The  prisoners,  since  the  building  was  completed,  have 
been  engaged  considerably  in  quarrying  marble  from  the  extensive  ledges  in 
this  town. 

Opposite  Sing  Sing,  across  Tappan  Bay,  which  is  widest  at  this  point,  is 
Verdritege's  Hook,  a  bold  headland,  rising  majestically  from  the  river.  On 
this  mountain  there  is  a  crystal  lake,  about  two  miles  in  circumference,  which 
forms  the  source  of  Hackensack  River,  and  which,  though  not  half  a  mile 
from  the  Hudson,  is  elevated  three  hundred  feet  above  it.  This  is  called 
Rockland  Lake,  from  whence  large  quantities  of  the  very  clearest  ice  are  an- 
nually sent  to  New  York.  The  ice,  cut  into  large  square  blocks,  is  slid 
down  to  the  level  of  the  river,  and,  upon  the  opening  of  the  spring,  it  is  trans- 
ported in  boats  to  the  city.  The  Hackensack  River  falls  into  Newark  Bay, 
near  Jersey  City. 


26 


HUDSON    RIVER  AND  RAILROAD. 


Two  miles  above  Sing  Sing,  the'road  crosses  the  mouth  of  Croton  River, 
and  Teller's  Point,  a  narrow  neck  of  land  extending  into  the  river  al*out  a 
mile,  and  dividing  Tappan  and  Haverstraw  Bays.  This  neck  of  land,  which 
is  almost  entirely  light  and  sandy,  has  probably  been  formed  by  the  earth 
and  stones  washed  down  by  the  Croton  River  during  the  spring  freshets, 
when  a  large  volume  of  water  is  poured  into  the  Hudson  at  its  mouth.  The 
entire  length  of  the  river  is  about  forty  miles. 

Croton,  thirty-five  miles  from  New  York,  is  a  short  distance  above  Teller's 
Point,  in  the  southern  part  of  Peekskill  township.    It  is  a  small  but  thriving 


View  of  Croton  Dam. 


village,  and  the  nearest  station  to  the  fountain  reservoir,  the  head  of  the  far 
famed  Croton  Waterworks,  by  which  the  city  of  New  York  is  supplied 
with  pure  water.  It  is  a  place  well  worth  visiting.  Although  not  strictly 
within  our  plan,  a  brief  sketch  of  this  great  project  may  not  be  uninteresting 
to  the  reader. 

The  building  of  the  Croton  Aqueduct  was  commenced  in  1835.  At  the 
charter  election  of  that  year,  the  citizens  of  New  York  were  required  to  vote 
for  or  against  the  project.  There  were  17,330  votes  thrown;  11,367  of 
which  were  in  favor  of,  and  5,963  against  the  act  of  incorporation.  On  the 
4th  of  July,  1842,  the  water  was  let  into  the  reservoir,  and  on  the  14th  of 
October  following,  it  was  brought  into  the  city  in  the  distributing  pipes. 
The  whole  cost,  including  the  high  bridge  across  Harlem  River,  was  about 
fourteen  millions  of  dollars. 


HUDSON   RIVER  AND    RAILROAD.  27 

•  •  ;  ■ 

The  fountain  reservoir  is  forty  miles  from  New  York.  The  dam  built  at 
this  place  is  about  six  miles  from  the  junction  of  the  Croton  River  with  the 
Hudson,  and  is  250  feet  long,  40  feet  high,  70  feet  wide  at  the  bottom  and 
7  feet  at  the  top.  It  is  built  of  stone  and  cement,  in  a  vertical  form  on  the 
upstream  side,  with  occasional  offsets,  and  the  lower  face  has  a  curved  form, 
so  as  to  pass  the  water  over  without  giving  it  a  direct  fall  upon  the  apron  at 
the  foot ;  this  apron  is  formed  of  timber,  stone  and  concrete,  and  extends 
some  distance  from  the  toe  of  the  masonry,  giving  security  at  the  point  where 
the  water  has  the  •  greatest  action.  A  secondary  dam  has  been  built  at  the 
distance  of  three  hundred  feet  from  the  masonry,  in  order  to  form  a  basin  of 
water  setting  back  over  the  apron  at  the  toe  of  the  main  dam,  so  as  to  break 
the  force  of  the  water  falling  upon  it.  This  secondary  dam  is  formed  of  round 
timber,  brushwood  and  gravel ;  it  may  be  seen  in  the  picture  directly  under 
the  bridge  which  extends  across  below  the  main  structure. 

Pine's  Bridge,  the  place  where  Major  Andre  crossed  the  Croton  River,  on 
his  return  from  his  interview  with  Arnold,  occupied  a  position  which  is  now 
about  the  middle  of  this  reservoir,  and  there  is  at  that  place  a  bridge  over 
the  reservoir,  resting  upon  piers  and  abutments. 

The  hills  which  bound  the  Croton  valley,  where  the  reservoir  is  formed,  are 
so  bold  as  to  confine  it  within  narrow  limits ;  for  about  two  miles  above  the 
dam  the  average  width  is  about  one  eighth  of  a  mile.  At  this  distance  from 
the  dam  the  valley  opens,  so  that,  for  the  length  of  two  miles  more,  the  width 
is  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile ;  here  the  valley  contracts  again,  and  diminishes 
the  width  until  the  flow  line  reaches  the  natural  width  of  the  river  at  the  head 
of  the  lake.  The  country  immediately  contiguous  to  the  shore  has  been 
cleared  up,  and  all  that  would  be  liable  to  impart  any  impurity  to  the  water 
has  been  removed.  This  gives  a  pleasing  aspect  to  the  lake,  showing 
where  the  hand  of  art  has  swept  along  the  shores,  leaving  a  clean  margin. 

The  surface  of  the  fountain  reservoir  is  166  feet  above  the  level  of  mean 
tide  at  the  city  of  New  York ;  and  the  difference  of  level  between  that  and 
the  surface  of  the  receiving  reservoir  on  the  island  of  New  York,  (a  distance 
of  thirty-eight  miles,)  is  47  feet,  leaving  the  surface  of  this  reservoir  119  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  mean  tide.  From  the  receiving  reservoir  the  water  is 
conducted  a  distance  of  two  miles  in  iron  pipes  to  the  distributing  reservoir, 
where  the  sur/ace  of  the  water  is  115  feet  above  the  level  of  mean  tide. 
This  last  is  the  height  to  which  the  water  may  generally  be  made  available 
in  the  city. 

From  this  dam  the  aqueduct  proceeds,  sometimes  by  tunnelling  through 
solid  rocks,  crossing  valleys  by  embankments,  and  brooks  and  rivers  by 
bridges  and  culverts,  until  it  reaches  Harlem  River.  It  is  built  of  stone, 
brick,  and  cement,  arched  over  and  under.  It  is  8  feet  5  inches  high,  and 
the  water  has  a  descent  of  13 J  inches  per  mile,  discharging,  when  running 
two  thirds  full,  60,000,000  gallons  per  day  The  aqueduct  is  carried  over 
3 


28                     HUDSON   RIVER  AND  RAILROAD. 
 •  

Harlem  river  upon  a  magnificent  bridge  of  hewn  granite,  termed  the  "  High 

Bridge  "  1450  feet  long,  with  14  piers  and  15  arches ;  eight  of  them  80  feet 

6pan,  and  seven  of  50  feet  span,  114  feet  above  tide-water  to  the  top,  and 

which  cost  nearly  a  million  of  dollars. 


View  of  High  Bridge. 


Previous  to  the  completion  of  this  bridge,  the  water  was  carried  under  the 
river  in  two  lines  of  iron  pipe  of  36  inches  in  diameter.  In  the  progress  of 
preparing  the  foundations  for  the  piers  of  the  bridge,  an  embankment  was 
formed  across  the  river,  and  the  pipe,  leaving  the  aqueduct  on  the  north  side 
of  the  valley,  followed  down  the  slope  of  the  hill,  and,  crossing  over  the  river 
upon  this  embankment,  ascended  on  the  south  side  again  to  the  aqueduct. 
At  the  bottom  or  lowest  point  in  this  pipe  a  branch  pipe  of  one  foot  diameter 
was  connected,  extending  a  distance  of  80  feet  from  it  at  right  angles  and 
horizontally ;  the  end  of  this  pipe  was  turned  upwards  to  form  a  jet,  and  iron 
plates  fastened  upon  it,  so  as  to  give  any  form  that  might  be  desired  to  the 
water  issuing.  The  level  of  this  branch  pipe  is  about  120  feet  below  the 
bottom  of  the  aqueduct  on  the  north  side  of  the  valley,  affording  an  opportu- 
nity for  a  beautiful  jet  (Teau,  —  such  an  one  as  cannot  be  obtained  at  the 
fountains  in  the  city.  From  an  orifice  of  7  inches  in  diameter,  the  column 
of  water  rises  to  a  height  of  115  feet,  when  there  is  but  two  feet  of  water  in 
the  aqueduct.  • 

Visitors  to  the  "  High  Bridge''  can  pass  and  repass  upon  the  top  with  the 
most  perfect  security.  It  is  a  splendid  structure,  richly  worth  the  notice  of 
the  traveller.  Persons  wishing  to  visit  it  from  the  city  of  New  York  can 
take  the  cars  of  the  Hudson  River  Railroad  to  Carmansville,  which  is  short 
of  one  mile  distant  from  the  Bridge  or  by  the  way  of  Harlem. 

After  crossing  Harlem  River,  the  aqueduct  continues  to  the  receiving 
reservoir  at  86th  street,  covering  35  acres,  and  containing  150  millions  of 
gallons.    From  this  point  the  line  proceeds  to  the  distributing  reservoir 


Jet  at  Harlem  River. 

at  40th  street,  and  from  thence  the  water  is  distributed  over  the  city  by 
means  of  iron  pipes. 

Haverstraw ,  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  thirty-six  miles  from  New  York,  is 
a  neat  village,  pleasantly  situated  upon  a  plateau  overlooking  the  river.  It 
has  constant  communication  with  the  city  by  steamboats.  Three  miles  above 
Haverstraw  is  Stony  Point,  the  site  of  a  fort  during  the  Revolution.  Di- 
rectly opposite,  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  is  Verplanck's  Point.  The 
river  between  these  two  points  is  only  half  a  mile  across,  and  here  was  estab- 
lished what  was  called  King's  Ferry,  the  great  highway  between  the  eastern 
and  the  middle  states.  The  ferry  was  commanded  by  the  points  of  land  on 
the  two  shores.  Both  these  forts  were  captured  by  the  British  in  .May,  1779, 
and  their  occupation  by  the  enemy  was  a  great  annoyance  to  the  surrounding 
country;  besides  which,  a  tedious  circuit  through  the  Highlands  became 
necessary,  in  order  to  keep  up  the  communication  between  the  two  divisions 
of  the  army.  Stony  Point  was  re-taken  by  a  body  of  Americans]  under  Gen. 
Wayne,  on  the  15th  of  July  following,  and  the  works  destroyed,  though 
"Washington  did  not  retain  possession  of  it.  Both  forts  were,  however, 
evacuated  by  the  British  in  October  of  the  same  year.  A  light-house  now 
stands  upon  the  extremity  of  Stony  Point,  a  considerable  height  above  the 
river. 


HUDSON  RIVER 


AND 


RAILROAD. 


Peekskill,  forty-two  miles  from  New  York;  is  one  of  the  most  romantic 
places  upon  Hudson  River.  The  village  stands  close  to  the  water,  near  the 
mouth  of  Annsville  Creek,  which  falls  into  the  Hudson  a  short  distance  above. 
The  river  here  takes  a  sharp  turn  to  the  westward.  On  the  opposite  shore  is 
Caldwell's  Landing,  which  stands  at  the  base  of  the  venerable  Dunderburg, 
or  Thunder  Mountain.  From  the  top  of  this  mountain  a  most  lovely  view  of 
the  river  below  is  obtained ;  and,  in  clear  weather,  the  city  and  bay  of  New 
York  may  be  seen. 

Peekskill  is  the  birth-place  of  John  Paulding,  the  master  spirit  and  leader 
of  the  trio  who  arrested  Andre  at  Tarry  town.  Paulding  died  in  1818,  in 
the  60th  year  of  his  age.  A  monument  has  been  erected  over  his  remains, 
which  are  deposited  about  two  miles  north  of  the  village.  It  is  of  marble,  a 
pyramid  about  fifteen  feet  high,  enclosed  by  an  iron  railing. 

Two  miles  east  of  the  village  stands  the  dwelling  occupied  by  Washington 
while  the  American  army  were  encamped  here.  This,  too,  was  the  place 
where  Palmer  was  executed,  by  order  of  General  Putnam,  whose  memorable 
reply  to  Gov.  Tryon,  who  wrote  a  letter,  threatening  vengeance  if  he  were 
executed,  deserves  an  enduring  record.  It  briefly  and  emphatically  unfolds 
the  true  character  of  that  distinguished  hero.    The  note  ran  thus  :  — 

"Sir,  —  Nathan  Palmer,  a  lieutenant  in  your  service,  was  taken  in  my 
camp  as  a  spy;  he  was  tried  as  a  spy;  he  was  condemned  as  a  spy;  and, 
you  may  rest  assured,  sir,  he  shall  be  hanged  as  a  spy. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c, 

"  Israel  Putnam. 

"P.  S.  —  Afternoon.    He  is  hanged." 

.  It  was  in  this,  township,  some  miles  south  of  the  village  of  Peekskill,  where 
the  train  of  circumstances  commenced,  by  which  Major  Andre  was  placed  in 
the  hands  of  the  Americans,  in  1780.  The  story  is  one  which  will  never 
grow  old.  It  will  be  remembered  as  a  reminiscence  of  the  Revolution  as 
long  as  the  memory  of  Washington  is  cherished. 

At  the  time  of  which  we  write,  West  Point  was,  without  question,  the 
most  important  post  in  the  United  States.  Its  almost  impregnable  strength 
had  been  increased  by  great  expense  and  labor ;  and  it  was  an  object  upon 
which  General  Washington  perpetually  kept  his  eye.  And  perhaps  it  is 
not  too  much  to  say  that  the  possession  vf  that  fort,  by  the  Americans,  was 
the  turning-point  of  success. 

It  seems  that  Arnold,  who  was  a  spendthrift,  notwithstanding  his  previous 
brilliant  reputation  as  an  officer,  had  been  appointed  commander  in  Phila- 
delphia, after  the  British  evacuated  that  city.  Here  he  adopted  a  style  of 
living  altogether  beyond  his  means  ;  and  he  soon  found  himself  loaded  with 
debt.  To  retrieve  himself  he  had  recourse  to  fraud  and  peculation.  His 
conduct  soon  rendered  him  odious  to  the  citizens,  and  gave  offence  to  gov- 


HUDSON    RIVER    AND    RAILROAD.        "  31 

ernment.  At  length  complaints  were  made  against  him ;  he  was  tried  by  a 
court  martial  and  sentenced  to  be  reprimanded  by  the  commander-in-chief. 
This  sentence  General  Washington,  as  gently  as  the  circumstances  of  the  case 
would  admit,  carried  into  execution.  •  Mortified  and  soured,  and  complaining 
of  public  ingratitude,  Arnold  attempted  to  effect  a  loan  from  the  French  min- 
ister, but  without  success. 

Several  months  before  this,  under  the  assumed  name  of  "  Gustavus"  he 
had  opened  a  correspondence  with  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  then  at  the  head  of  the 
British  army  at  New  York.  There  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  his 
extreme  want  of  money,  and  those  various  public  rebukes,  hurried  him  to  the 
fatal  determination  to  sell  his  country  for  gain.  This  was  early  in  the  year, 
and  it  only  remained  for  him  to  settle  in  his  mind  the  manner  in  which  this 
could  oC  be  done  as  to  produce  the  greatest  advantage  to  himself.  He  thought 
of  "West  Point,  and,  his  resolution  being  taken,  all  his  views  and  efforts  thence-  . 
forward  were  directed  to  that  single  object. 

Cautiously,  so  as  not  to  awaken  the  slightest  suspicion,  he  hinted  to  "Wash* 
ington  his  willingness  to  assume  the  command  at  West  Point.  He  further 
prevailed  upon  Robert  R.  Livingston,  then  a  member  of  Congress  from  New 
York,  to  write  to  the  general,  and  suggest  the  expediency  of  appointing  him 
to  that  station.  Various  other  insidious  means  were  taken  by  Arnold  to  gain 
his  object,  and  he  was  at  length  successful ;  as,  on  the  third  of  August,  we 
find  him  in  full  command,  ripe  for  treason  and  revenge. 

Sir  Henry  Clinton  now  saw  a  prospect  before  him  which  claimed  his  whole 
attention.  To  get  possession  of  West  Point  and  its  dependent  posts,  with 
garrison,  military  stores,  cannon,  vessels,  boats,  and  provisions,  appeared  to 
him  an  object  of  such  vast  importance,  that  in  attaining  it  no  reasonable 
expense  ought  to  be  spared.  The  maturing  of  this  plot  was  entrusted 
to  Major  Andre,  an  Adjutant  General  in  his  command :  and,  to  facilitate 
measures  for  its  execution,  the  sloop  of  war  Vulture  conveyed  him  up 
the  Hudson  as  far  as  Teller's  Point,  where  she  dropped  anchor.  During  the 
night  of  September  21st,  1780, —  while  General  Washington  was  absent  at 
Hartford, —  with  a  surtout  thrown  over  his  regimentals,  Andre  was  put  ashore 
in  a  boat  and  had  an  interview  with  Arnold,  upon  the  banks  of  the  river  with- 
out the  American  lines.  Daylight  the  next  morning  found  their  arrangements 
incompleted,  and  Andre  was  induced  to  go  to  the  house  of  one  Smith,  a  pliant 
tool  of  Arnold's,  near  Stony  Point  and  within  the  American  lines,  and  remain 
concealed  during  the  day.    Here  they  had  time  to  mature  their  designs. 

During  the  day  a  gun  was  brought  to  bear  upon  the  Vulture,  which  obliged 
her  to  change  her  position ;  and  at  night,  the  boatmen  refused  to  carry 
Andre  on  board  the  sloop.  To  return  to  New  York,  therefore,  by  land,  was 
the  only  alternative  left.  To  render  his  situation  more  safe,  Andre  laid  aside 
his  uniform,  and,  in  a  plain  coat,  upon  horseback,  he  began  his  journey.  He 
3* 


32 


HUDSON   RIVER   AND  RAILROAD. 


was  furnished  with  a  passport  in  the  name  of  John  Anderson,  signed  by 
Arnold,  "  to  go  to  White  Plains,  or  lower,  if  he  thought  proper,  he  being 
upon  public  business  by  my  direction."    He  was  accompanied  by  the  aforesaid 
Smith.    They  crossed  the  river  at  King's  Ferry,  from  Stony  Poi  at  to  Ver 
planck's,  and  passed  the  American  works  at  those  places  without  suspicion 
It  was  now  quite  dark,  and  they  were  induced,  from  the  representation  of 
danger  which  they  received  from  a  patrolling  party  which  they  met,  to  stop  ' 
for  the  night  at  the  house  of  Andreas  Miller,  near  Crompond,  about  eight 
miles  from  Yerplanck's  Point.    At  the  first  dawn  of  light,  Andre,  who, 
according  to  Smith's  testimony,  spent  a  "  restless  night,"  roused  his  com- 
panion, and  ordered  their  horses  to  be  prepared  for  an  early  departure.  They 
took  the  road  towards  Pine's  Bridge,  and  pressed  forward  without  interrup- 
tion.   Here  they  breakfasted  at  the  house  of  a  good  Dutch  woman  ;  and  here 
Andre  and  Smith  separated ;  the  former  pursuing  his  way  toward  Tarry  town, 
while  the  latter  returned  to  his  home. 

Andre  was  now  upon  the  "  Neutral  Ground,"  as  it  was  called.  This  part 
or  the  country  was  greatly  infested  with  a  set  of  robbers  from  the  "  Lower ' 
or  British  party,  denominated  "  Cow  Boys."  They  lived  within  the  British 
lines,  and  stole  or  bought  a  supply  of  cattle  for  the  army.  It  happened 
that  the  same  morning  on  which  Andre  crossed  Pine's  Bridge,  seven  persons, 
who  resided  near  Hudson's  River,  on  the  neutral  ground,  agreed  voluntarily 
to  go  out  in  company,  watch  the  road,  and  intercept  any  suspicious  stragglers, 
or  droves  of  cattle,  tha.t  might  be  seen  passing  towards  New  York.  Four  of 
this  party  were  stationed  on  a  hill,  where  they  had  a  view  of  the  road  for  some 
distance.  The  other  three,  named  John  Paulding,  David  Williams,  and  Isaac 
Van  Wart,  were  concealed  in  the  bushes  about  half  a  mile  north  of  the  village 
of  Tarrytown.  #  [See  Tarrytown.]  As  Andre,  who  had  met  with  no  interrup- 
tion from  Pine's  Bridge,  approached  this  spot,  Paulding  stepped  out  ana 
seized  his  horse  by  the  bridle.  The  surprise  of  the  moment  put  Andre  off  his 
guard,  and,  instead  of  showing  his  pass,  he  hastily  asked,  "  Where  do  you 
belong  ? "  '  They  answered,  "  Down  below,"  meaning  New  York,  a  true> 
Yankee  reply.  Elated  with  the  belief  that  he  was  once  more  among  friends, 
after  so  much  danger,  Andre  instantly  replied,  "  So  do  I."  He  then  foolishly 
declared  himself  to  be  a  British  officer,  upon  urgent  business,  and  begged  that 
tne  men  would  not  delay  him.  But  his  mistake  was  soon  apparent.  He  was 
taken  into  the  bushes  and  searched.  In  his  boots  they  found  six  papers,  as 
Paulding  observed,  "  of  a  dangerous  tendency."  Andre  now  proceeded  to  offer 
nis  watch,  his  horse,  and  large  amounts  of  money,  to  be  set  free.  But  he 
pleaded  in  vain.  The  nearest  military  post  was  at  North  Castle,  where  Lieut, 
colonel  Jameson  was  stationed.    To  this  place  Andre  was  taken. 

Andre  still  passed  for  John  Anderson,  and  requested  permission  to  write  to 
General  Arnold  to  inform  him  that  he  was  detained.  Col.  J ameson  thought- 
lessly permitted  the  letter  to  be  sent,  and  forwarded  to  General  Washington 


HUDSON    RIVER   AND  RAILROAD. 


83 


the  papers  found  upon  the  prisoner,  with  a  statement  of  the  manner  in  which 
he  was  taken.  The  General  was  then  on  his  return  from  Hartford,  and  the 
express  took  a  road  different  from  that  on  which  he  was  travelling,  and  passed 
him.  This  occasioned  so  great  a  loss  of  time,  that  Arnold,  having  received 
Andre's  letter,  made  his  escape  on  board  the  Vulture  before  the  order  for 
his  arrest  arrived  at  West  Point. 

As  soon  as  Andre  learned  that  Arnold  was  safe,  he  flung  off  all  disguise, 
and  assumed  his  true  character  as  a  British  officer.  General  Washington 
referred  his  case  to  a  board  of  fourteen  general  officers,  of  which  Generals 
La  Fayette  and  Steuben  were  members.  -They  were  to  determine  in  what 
character  he  was  to  be  considered,  and  what  punishment  ought  .to  be  inflicted. 
They  treated  Andre  with  great  delicacy  and  tenderness,  desiring  him  to 
answer  no  questions  that  embarrassed  his  feelings.  But,  concerned  only  for 
his  honor,  he  frankly  confessed  that  he  did  not  come  on  shore  under  a  flag, 
and  stated  so  fully  all  facts  respecting  himself,  that  it  became  unnecessary  to 
examine  a  single  witness.  The  board,  after  due  consideration,  gave  it  as 
their  opinion  that  Andre  was  a  spy ;  and  that,  agreeably  to  the  laws  and 
usages  of  nations,  he  ought  to  suffer  death.  His  execution  took  place  the 
following  day.    [See  Tappan.] 

Andre  was  reconciled  to  death,  but  not  to  the  mode  of  dying.  He  wrote 
to  Gen.  Washington,  soliciting  that  he  might  be  shot,  rather  than  to  die  on  a 
gibbet.  But  the  stern  maxims  of  justice  forbade  a  compliance  with  this 
request. 

Great,  but  unavailing,  endeavors  were  made  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton  to  save 
Andre.  Even  Arnold  had  the  presumption  to  write  a  threatening  letter  to 
Washington  on  the  subject.  An  exchange  for  Arnold  was  suggested  in  an 
indirect  manner,  but  Clinton  would  not  listen  to  the  proposal.  Arnold  was 
subsequently  appointed  Major  General  in  the  British  army,  and  served  out 
the  war  in  that  capacity.  He  was  also  paid  the  sum  of  fifty  thousand  dollars 
After  the  war  was  finished  he  returned  to  England,  where  he  died,' in  1801, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-one  years.  He  lived  to  be  despised  as  well  by  those  he 
Served  as  those  he  attempted  to  betray ;  and  his  name  is  held  in  execration 
.jj  the  whole  civilized  world. 

One  mile  above  Peekskill,  the  cars  pass  along  close  to  the  base  of  An 
thony's  Nose.  This  mountain  is  a  complete  mass  of  rock,  partly  covered  in 
some  places  with  stunted  trees.  It  rises  very  abruptly  from  the  river  to  the 
height  of  1128.  feet.  On  the  opposite  shore  of  the  river  is  the  Dunderburg, 
presenting  a  romantic  spectacle.  Between  these  two  elevations  is  that  part 
of  Hudson  River  termed  the  "Horse  Race,"  a  name  derived  from  the 
rapidity  of  the  current  at  this  point  at  ebb  tide. 

Various  stories  are  told  concerning  the  manner  in  which  one  of  these 
mountains  obtained  its  name.  The  following  is  generally  believtxl  to  be 
y  genuine."    Before  the  Revolution,*  a  vessel  was  passing  up  the  river,  under 


IIUDSON 


RIVER   AND  RAILROAD. 


the  command  of  Captain  Hogans.  He  had  an  enormous  nose,  whir*,  tfas 
frequently  the  subject  of  joking  among  the  crew.  When  immediately  oppo- 
site this  mountain,  the  mate  looked  rather  quizzically,  first  at  the  mountain 
and  then  at  the  captain's  nose.  "  What,"  said  Captain  Hogans,  "  does  that 
look  like  my  nose?  Well,  then,  let  us  call  it  Anthony's  Nose."  The  story 
was  repeated  on  shore,  and  the  mountain  thenceforward  assumed  the  name, 
becoming  an  everlasting  monument  to  the  memory  of  Captain  Anthony 
Hogans  and  his  nose. 

About  opposite  the  second  tunnel,  above  Peekskill,  stand  the  two  forts, 
Clinton  and  Montgomery,  one  upon  each  side  of  the  mouth  of  a  small  stream 
which  falls  into  the  Hudson  at  this  point.  These  forts  were  the  main 
defences  of  the  Highlands  during  the  Revolution.  They  were  too  high  to  be 
battered  from  the  water,  and  surrounded  by  steep  and  rugged  hills,  which 
made  the  approach  to  them  on  the  land  side  very  difficult.  To  stop  the 
ascent  of  the  enemy's  ships,  frames  of  timber,  with  projecting  beams  shod 
with  iron,  were  sunk  in  the  river.  A  boom,  formed  of  large  trees  fastened 
together,  extended  from  bank  to  bank;  and  in  front  of  this  boom  was 
stretched  a  huge  iron  chain.  Higher  up  the  r^ver,  upon  a  small  island,  was 
.Fort  Constitution,  and  here  was  another  boom  and  chain.  Forts  Montgomery 
and  Clinton,  having  been  left  with  a  force  of  only  eight  hundred  men,  under 
the  belief  that  they  were  secure,  were  captured  by  the  British,  October  6, 
1777.  At  that  time  General  Burgoyne  was  closely  hemmed  in  near  Sara- 
toga, by  General  Gates.  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  anxious  to  afford  General  Bur- 
goyne an  opportunity  to  force  his  way  to  Hudson  River,  left  New  York  on 
the  fifth  of  October  with  four  thousand  troops,  and  landed  at  Verplanck's 
Point.  While  a  part  of  this  force  led  General  Putnam,  who  was  at  Peeks- 
kill,  to  believe  that  Fort  Independence  was  the  object  of  the  expedition,  a 
stronger  party  crossed  the  river  to  Stony  Point,  and,  pushing  inland  through 
the  mountain  defiles,  approached  in  rear  of  Forts  Clinton  and  Montgomery, 
of  which  'the  entire  garrison  did  not  exceed  six  hundred  men,  and  both  were 
captured.  Immediately  after  the  news  of  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne's  army, 
which  took  place  October  16,  the  forts  were  evacuated  by  the  captors. 

Garrison's,  fifty  miles  from  New  York,  is  the  station  at  which  West 
Point  passengers  leave  the  trains.  A  ferry  connects  the  two  places.  Two 
miles  below  this  station,  on  the  western  shore  of  the  river,  are  the  Buttermilk 
Falls.  These  present  a  very  beautiful  appearance,  especially  when  the 
stream  is  swollen  by  heavy  rains.  The  water  descends,  for  more  than  a 
hundred  feet,  in  two  successive  cascades,  spreading  out  in  sheets  of  milk-white 
foam. 

West  Point,  fifty-one  miles  from  New  York,  is  unquestionably  the  most 
romantic  place  upon  the  Hudson  River.  The  approach  to  it  is  highly  inter- 
esting. The  village  is  placed  upon  the  top  of  a  promontory  one  hundred  and 
eighty-eight  feet  above  the  river,  where  there  is  spread  out  a  level  plateau  or 


HUDSON   RiVER   AND  RAILROAD. 


35 


36 


HUDSON    RIVER   AND  RAILROAD. 


terrace,  more  than  a  mile  in  circumference.  The  declivity  is  very  steep  on 
all  sides,  and  the  surrounding  craggy  hills  seem  to  be  nothing  but  masses  of 
rocks,  fantastically  heaped  by  nature,  crowding  the  stream  below  into  a 
channel  less  than  half  a  mile  in  width. 

West  Point  is  chiefly  noted  as  the  seat  of  the  Military  Academy,  estab- 
lished here  in  1802.  The  land  —  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  —  was 
ceded  to  the  United  States  by  New  York  in  1826.  The  buildings  are  two 
stone  barracks  occupied  by  two  hundred  and  fifty  cadets,  the  limited  number; 
a  large  stone  building,  for  military  exercises  in  the  winter,  and  as  a  depository 
for  models  of  fortifications,  &c. ;  a  two-story  stone  building,  with  three  towers, 
for  astronomical  purposes;  a  chapel,  hospital,  mess-rooms,  &c,  &c,  and  a 
number  of  other  dwelling-houses  for  the  officers  of  the  institution. 

The  number  of  applications  for  admission  to  the  West  Point  Academy  is 
so  great  that  the  candidate  must  feel  his  claims  to  be  transcendent  who  can 
calculate  upon  admission  with  any  degree  of  certainty.  The  ratio  of  appoint- 
ments is  about  three  for  every  congressional  district  in  four  years.  In  select- 
ing candidates  for  admission,  the  descendants  of  revolutionary  officers,  and  of 
those  who  served  in  the  last  war,  are  considered  as  having  peculiar  claims  to 
notice.  There  is  no  other  distinction  between  the  candidates,  save  their 
accredited  talents  and  abilities  to  be  of  public  service.  The  age  of  admission 
is  from  sixteen  to  twenty-one. 

The  months  of  July  and  August  of  each  year  are  demoted  solely  to  mili- 
tary exercises ;  for  which  purpose  the  cadets  leave  the  barracks  and  encamp 
in  tents  on  the  plain,  under  the  regular  police  and  discipline  of  an  army  iD 
time  of  war.  For  this  purpose,  the  cadets  are  organized  into  a  battalion  of 
four  companies,  under  the  command  of  the  chief  instructor  of  tactics  and  his 
assistants.  The  corporals  are  chosen  from  the  third  class,  or  cadets  who  have 
been  present  one  year ;  the  sergeants  from  the  second  class,  who  have  been 
present  two  years;  and  the  commissioned  officers,  or  captains,  lieutenants, 
&c,  from  the  first  class,  or  highest  at  the  academy.  All  the  other  cadets 
fill  the  ranks  as  private  soldiers,  although  necessarily  acquainted  with  the 
duties  of  officers.  In  rotation  they  have  to  perform  the  duty  of  sentinels,  at 
all  times,  day  or  night,  storm  or  sunshine.  #The  drills,  or  military  exercises, 
consist  in  the  use  of  the  musket,  rifle,  cannon,  mortar,  howitzer,  sabre  and 
rapier,  or  broad-sword;  fencing,  firing  at  targets,  &c,  evolutions  of  troops, 
including  those  of  the  line  ;  and  the  preparation  and  preserving  of  all  kinds 
of  ammunition  and  materials  of  war.  The  personal  appearance  of  the  corps 
of  cadets  cannot  fail  to  attract  admiration,  especially  when  on  parade.  The 
uniform  is  a  gray  coatee,  with  gray  pantaloons  in  winter,  and  white  linen  in 
summer.  The  dress  cap  is  of  black  leather,  bell-crowned,  with  plate, 
chain,  &c. 

The  cadets  return  from  camp  duty  to  the  barracks  on  the  last  of  August, 
and  the  remaining  part  of  the  year  is  devoted  to  study.    Tbe  ceremony  oi 


HUDSON    RIVER   AND    RAILR )AD. 


37 


striking  the  tents  and  marching  out  of  camp  is  so  imposing  as  to  be  well 
worth  an  effort  of  the  visitor  to  be  present  on  that  occasion.  On  the  previ- 
ous evening  the  camp  is  brilliantly  illuminated ;  and,  enlivened  with  music, 
dancing,  and  crowds  of  strangers,  it  presents  quite  an  interesting  and  pleas- 
ant scene. 

Near  the  north-east  extremity  of  the  ground,  at  the  projecting  point  formed 
by  an  abrupt  bend  of  the  river,  is  a  monument  of  white  marble,  consisting  of 
a  base  and  a  short  column,  on  the  former  of  which  is  the  simple  inscription, 
"Kosciusko  —  erected  by  the  corps  of  Ckidets,  1828."  It  cost  $5,000. 
Another  monument,  on  a  gentle  hillock  at  the  north-west  extremity  of  the 
plain,  was  erected  to  the  memory  of  Col.  E.  D.  Wood,  a  pupil  of  the  institu- 
tion, who  fell  leading  a  charge  at  the  sortie  of  Fort  Erie,  on  the  17th  of 
September,  1814.  On  the  river  bank,  near  the  parade-ground,  upon  a 
lower  level,  is  Kosciusko's  garden,  whither  he  was  accustomed  to  retire  for 
study  or  reflection.  Near  this  spot  is  a  clear  boiling  spring,  enclosed  in  a 
marble  reservoir,  with  durable  and  ornamental  steps  leading  down  from  the 
plain  above,  with  seats  upon  a  projection  of  the  rock  for  visitors. 

There  is  a  splendid  hotel  on  the  brow  of  the  hill,  which  is  approached  by 
a  good  carriage-road  from  the  landing ;  or  the  pedestrian  may  reach  it  by  the 
foot-path,  much  shorter  and  more  difficult.  The  view  from  the  observatory 
of  this  hotel  is  very  fine,  especially  on  the  north,  looking  towards  Newburg. 
The  dim  outlines  of  the  Shawangunk  Mountains  may  be  distinctly  seen  in 
fine  weather. 

Near  the  steamboat  landing  is  the  rock  from  which  a  chain  was  stretched 
across  the  river  during  the  Revolution.  It  was  broken  by  the  British  vessels 
in  their  passage  up  the  river,  after  the  capture  of  Forts  Clinton  and  Mont- 
gomery ;  and  some  links  of  it,  near  three  feet  long,  made  of  bar  iron  two 
inches  square,  are  still  preserved  as  a  revolutionary  relic. 

At  this  time  West  Point  was  not  fortified.  In  April,  1778,  General 
Gates  proceeded  up  the  river,  accompanied  by  several  eminent  engineers,  to 
erect  such  impediments  as  should  effectually  prevent  the  ascent,  above  the 
Highlands,  of  the  enemy's  ships.  The  new  fortifications  were  zealously  pros- 
ecuted, under  the  direction  of  Kosciusko,  the  Polish  chieftain,  at  whose  sug- 
gestion the  works  at  West  Point  were  commenced.  The  principal  work  was 
Fort  Clinton,  which  stood  upon  the  plateau  on  which  the  Military  Academy 
has  since  been  built.  This  fort,  in  turn,  was  protected  by  several  redoubts 
higher  up  the  cliff,  the  most  important  of  which  was  Fort  Putnam,  598  feet 
above  the  river.  These  covered  each  other,  and  the  main  garrison  and  am- 
munition stores  were  under  bomb-proof  casements.  The  works  were  partly 
hewn  in  rock,  and  impregnable.  Fort  Putnam  and  most  of  the  others  are 
now  in  ruins ;  but  the  important  situation  suggests  how  easily  and  effectually 
the  post  could  be  again  armed,  .should  occasion  require.    The  ascent  to  the 


38 


HUDSON    RIVER   AND  RAILROAD. 


site  of  Fort  Putnam  is  tedious  and  difficult ;  but  the  visitor  will  be  repaid 
tenfold  for  his  labor  by  the  view  from  that  elevation. 

And  it  may  be  proper  here  to  state,  that  the  traveller  who  merely  passes 
up  through  this  region,  —  unquestionably  the  grandest  and  most  picturesque 
upon  this  continent,  —  either  by  steamboat  or  by  railroad,  without  stopping, 
knows  nothing  at  all  about  the  beauty  of  the  Highlands  of  Hudson  River. 
He  who  possesses  a  vivid  fancy  might  imagine  what  a  wonderful  view  would 
open  before  him  from  the  side  or  summit  of  Anthony's  Nose,  or  old  Cro' 
Nest,  or  Bull  Hill ;  but  it  would  be  naught  else  but  imagination.  He  must 
see  for  himself,  from  reality,  or  he  loses  a  picture  which  he  would  never  for- 
get. He  must  ramble  over  this  almost  barren  region,  and  do  it  at  his  leisure, 
or  he  will  have  no  adequate  conception  of  the  enchanting  prospect  which  will 
at  every  step  meet  his  eyes. 

Cold  Spring,  two  miles  above  Garrison's,  fifty-four  miles  from  New  York, 
is  a  romantic  place,  and  owes  much  of  its  prosperity  to  the  iron  foundery 
established  here  by  Gouverneur  Kemble.  The  works  are  situated  about  a 
mile  west  of  the  village,  upon  a  small  stream  which  tumbles  rapidly  down  the 
mountains,  affording  considerable  water  power.  It  is  the  largest  establish- 
ment of  its  kind  in  the  country,  employing  nearly  five  hundred  hands  con- 
stantly. 

Undercliff,  the  country-seat  of  General  George  P.  Morris,  is  near  the 
village  of  Cold  Spring.  It  is  situated  upon  an  elevated  plateau,  rising 
from  the  eastern  shore  of  the  river ;  and  the  selection  of  such  a  commanding 
and  beautiful  position  at  once  decides  the  taste  of  its  intellectual  proprietor. 
In  the  rear  of  the  villa,  cultivation  has  placed  her  fruit  and  forest-trees  with  a 
profuse  hand,  and  fertilized  the  fields  with  a  variety  of  vegetable  products. 
The  extent  of  the  grounds  is  abruptly  terminated  by  the  base  of  a  rocky 
mountain,  that  rises  nearly  perpendicular  to  its  summit,  and  affords  in  winter 
a  secure  shelter  from  the  bleak  blasts  of  the  north.  In  front,  a  circle  of 
greensward  is  refreshed  by  a  fountain  in  the  centre,  gushing  from  a  Grecian 
vase,  and  encircled  by  ornamental  shrubbery ;  from  thence  a  gravelled  walk 
winds  down  a  gentle  declivity  to  a  second  plateau,  and  again  descends  to  the 
entrance  of  the  carriage  road,  which  leads  upwards  along  the  left  slope  of  the 
hill,  through  a  noble  forest,  the  growth  of  many  years,  until,  suddenly  emerg- 
ing from  its  sombre  shades,  the  visitor  beholds  the  mansion  before  him  in  the 
bright  blaze  of  day.  A  few  openings  in  the  wood  afford  an  opportunity  to 
catch  a  glimpse  of  the  water,  sparkling  with  reflected  light ;  and  the  imme- 
diate transition  from  shadow  to  sunshine  is  peculiarly  pleasing. 

Immediately  opposite  Cold  Spring,  rising  almost  perpendicular  from  the 
water,  stands  the  old  Cro'  Nest,  one  of  the  most  beautiful  elevations  in 
America.  This  mountain  is  the  scene  of  Rodman  Drake's  exquisite  poem  of 
"The  Culprit  Fay;"  and  the  description  of  the  place  is  so  natural  and 
striking,  that  it  will  be  quite  in  place  here. 


40 


HUDSON    RIVER    AND  RAILROAD 


*'  'T  is  the  middle  watch  of  a  summer's  night,  — 
The  earth  is  dark,  but  the  heavens  are  bright 
Nought  is  seen  in  the  vault  on  high, 
But  the  moon,  and  the  stars,  and  the  cloudless  sky, 
And  the  flood  which  rolls  its  milky  hue,  — 
A  river  of  light  on  the  welkin  blue. 
The  moon  looks  down  on  old  Crow  Nest, 
She  mellows, the  shade  on  his  shaggy  breast, 
And  seems  his  huge  gray  form  to  throw 
In  a  silver  cone  on  the  wave  below  ; 
His  sides  are  broken  by  spots  of  shade, 
By  the  walnut  boughs  and  the  cedar  made, 
And  through  their  clustering  branches  dark 
Glimmers  and  dies  the  firefly's  spark,  — 
Like  starry  twinkles  that  momently  break 
Through  the  rifts  of  the  gathering  tempest  rack. 

The  stars  are  on  the  moving  stream, 

And  fling,  as  its  ripples  gently  flow, 

A  burnished  length  of  wavy  beam, 

In  an  eel-like,  spiral  line  below. 

The  winds  are  whist,  and  the  owl  is  still. 

The  bat  in  the  shelvy  rock  is  hid  ; 

And  nought  is  heard  on  the  lonely  hill 

But  the  cricket's  chirp  and  the  answer  shrill 

Of  the  gauze-winged  katy-did  ; 

And  the  plaints  of  the  mourning  whip-poor-will, 

Who  mourns  unseen,  and  ceaseless  sings 

Ever  a  note  of  wail  and  woe, 

Till  morning  spreads  her  rosy  wings, 

And  earth  and  skies  in  her  glances  glow. 

'T  is  the  hour  of  fairy  ban  and  spell : 
The  wood-tick  has  kept  the  minutes  well ; 
She  has  counted  them  all  with  click  and  stroke, 
Deep  in  the  heart  of  the  mountain-oak  ; 
And  he  has  awakened  the  sentry-elve, 
Who  sleeps  with  him  in  the  haunted  tree, 
To  bid  him  ring  the  hour  of  twelve, 
And  call  the  fays  to  their  revelry." 

***** 

Above  Cold  Spring  we  have  Bull  Hill,  1586  feet,  Breakneck  Hill,  upoa 
the  extremity  of  which  so  many  steamboat  passengers  have  tried  to  imagine 
the  profile  of  a  human  face,  or  "  Turk's  face,"  1187  feet;  and  Beacon  Hill, 
the  last  of  the  range  of  Highlands  upon  the  eastern  shore,  1G85  feet  high. 
On  the  western  shore,  Butter  Hill,  1520  feet,  closes  the  range.  This  latter 
elevation  forms  a  more  impressive  sight  to  the  traveller  than  the  others,  from 
its  immense  masses  of  towering  rock,  its  sudden  rise  from  the  river,  and  its 
great  height.  The  village  of  Cornwall  lies  directly  at  the  foot  of  Butter 
Hill,  on  the  north. 


HUDSON    RIVER    AND    RAILROAD.  41 

Fisiikill,  sixty  miles  from  New  York,  is  a  busy,  thriving  town.  The 
station  is  at  Fishkill  Landing,  the  centre  of  the  town  being  some  miles  back 
from  the  river.  The  manufacturing  village  of  Matteawan  lies  about  a  mile 
from  the  Landing  near  the  north  of  Matteawan  Creek,  which  supplies  its 
water-power.  The  situation  of  this  village  is  romantic  in  the  highest  degree. 
The  stream  falls  rapidly,  .affording  constant  power  for  several  factories  of  the 
largest  class.  The  village  is  completely  hemmed  in  by  steep  and  rugged 
hills,  rendering  the  scene  picturesque  and  pleasing. 

A  railroad  from  Providence,  R.  I.,  to  Fishkill,  by  way  of  Hartford,  Conn., 
has  been  projected,  and  partly  built.  As  the  Ncwburg  branch  of  the  Erie 
Railroad  has  its  terminus  directly  opposite,  this  would  make  a  direct  line  to 
Buffalo  and  the  great  West. 

The  stranger,  who  wishes  to  carry  away  a  distinct  impression  of  this  section 
of  the  Hudson,  will  not  fail  to  visit  Beacon  Hill,  just  back  of  the  village,  the 
last  summit  of  the  Highlands  of  any  considerable  altitude  as  the  range  dips 
off  to  the  north-east ;  and,  it  may  be  added,  the  highest  one  upon  the  river. 
An  hour's  ride,  partly  through  the  fine  arable  lands  of  Dutchess,  and  partly 
through  the  thick  overhanging  foliage  of  the  mountain  read,  brings  you  to  the 
summit.  A  few  occasional  glimpses  through  the  trees,  with  now  and  then 
a  broader  opening  at  some  curve  of  the  road,  beautiful  though  they  be,  give 
you  but  a  slight  foretaste  of  the  magnificent  prospect  reserved  for  you  upon 
the  summit.  This  summit  —  a  rounded  peak  of  primitive  granite,  bare,  or 
only  tufted  here  and  there  with  a  few  groups  of  small  trees,  with  no  habita- 
tions or  traces  of  cultivation  upon  it  —  affords  a  view  at  once  one  of  the  grandest 
and  most  beautiful  that  can  be  found  in  America.  Rising,  as  it  does,  rather 
abruptly  from  the  plain,  on  the  east  bank,  the  spectator,  gazing  from  its 
height  upon  the  scene  before  him  to  the  west  and  north,  is  placed,  as  it  were, 
upon  the  boundary  of  a  vast  picture,  which  is  continued  by  the  Highlands  in 
the  south,  the  summits  of  Shawangunk  range  in  the  west,  and  the  Catskill 
in  the  north,  quite  round  the  entire  view.  Within  this  circle  the  ma- 
terials of  the  beautiful  and  the  picturesque  are  arranged  with  all  the 
grandeur,  the  softness,  the  beauty  of  detail,  that  the  most  fastidious  connois- 
seur of  fine  scenery  can  desire.  Before  you  lies  the  Hudson,  swollen  into  a 
lovely  expanse  or  bay,  meandering  to  the  north  until  it  is  lost  in  the  distance, 
sprinkled  through  its  whole  course  with  the  white  sails  of  the  numberless 
vessels  that  float  upon  its  surface.  Sloping  away  from  its  banks  rise  the  tine 
cultivated  fields ;  the  clustered  villages,  the  elegant  villas,  and  the  neat  cot- 
tages gleaming  through  the  tufts  of  foliage  that  surrounds  them.  As  the  dis- 
tance intervenes,  these  all  gradually  mingle  into  one  indistinct  and  un- 
dulating carpet  of  green,  colored  with  various  tints  by  the  ripe  and  ripening 
grain.  It  was  early  in  the  autumn  when  we  climbed  the  summit  of  this  moun- 
tain on  foot.  The  foliage  had  been  changed  to  many  gaudy  hues  by  the 
frost,  and  to  us,  used  as  we  are  to  ascend  every  eminence  in  our  wanderings, 


42 


HUDSON    RIVER   AND  RAILROAD. 


where  the  beauties  of  nature  can  be  seen  to  advantage,  this  view  appeared  to 
surpass  all  others,  not  in  grandeur,  but  ji  beauty. 

Beacon  Hill  was  a  station  for  the  display  of  bonfires  during  the  Revolu- 
tion, which,  from  its  elevated  position,  denoted  the  movements  of  the  enemy 
to  the  inhabitants  for  a  great  distance  through  the  surrounding  counties. 

Newburg,  directly  opposite  Fishkill,  and  with  which  place  there  is  a  con- 
stant communication  by  means  of  a  ferry,  is  one  of  the  largest  and  most  im- 
portant towns  upon  Hudson  River.  The  town  stands  upon  a  pretty 
acclivity,  rising  with  a  sharp  ascent  from  the  river.  The  view  from  the 
steamboats,  as  they  approach  the  landing,  is  surpassingly  beautiful. 

Newburg  was  originally  settled  by  emigrant  Palatines,  in  1798.  The 
present  population  is  about  ten  thousand.  A  large  amount  of  business  is 
transacted  here  by  the  surrounding  towns ;  the  main  street,  upon  market  days, 
presenting  the  thronged  and  busy  appearance  of  a  city,  being  crowded  with 
teams,  and  lively  with  the  bustle  of  traders.  Two  or  three  steamboats  ply 
constantly  with  New  York,  during  the  summer  months,  to  do  the  freighting 
and  other  local  business  of  the  place. 

A  branch  of  the  Erie  Railroad,  leaving  the  main  line  at  Chester,  twenty 
miles  distant,  has  its  termination  at  Newburg.  This  branch  furnishes  a  direct 
line  to  Buffalo  and  the  great  West. 

From  the  top  of  the  hill,  in  the  rear  of  the  village,  there  is  a  very  fine  and 
extensive  prospect.  The  villages  of  Fishkill  and  Matteawan,  upon  the  east 
bank  of  the  river,  especially,  make  a  very  graceful  appearance. 

A  short  distance  south  of  Newburg  village  still  stands  the  old  stone  man- 
sion in  which  General  Washington  held  his  head-quarters  when  the  army  was 
encamped  here  during  the  Revolution.  It  is  visited  by  many  as  a  spot  ren- 
dered sacred  by  its  former  occupant,  and  by  the  cause  in  which  he  fought. 
Americans  will  not  soon  forget  the  noble  answer  of  Gen.  Washington,  written 
from  this  place,  to  Lewis  Nicola,  who  had,  as  the  head  of  a  party  of  officers, 
suggested  to  him  the  propriety  of  establishing  a  monarchy  and  making  him  a 
king.  His  reply,  considering  that  at  that  time  the  war  was  literally  at  an 
end,  and  the  independence  of  his  country  established,  is  worthy  of  record. 
It  ran  as  follows  :  — 

"  Newburg,  22d  Mag,  1782. 
"  Sir, — With  a  mixture  of  great  surprise  and  astonishment,  I  have  read 
with  attention  the  sentiments  you  have  submitted  to  my  perusal.  Be  assured, 
sir,  no  occurrence  in  the  course  of  the  war  has  given  me  more  painful  sensa- 
tions than  your  information  of  there  being  such  ideas  existing  in  the  army  as 
you  have  expressed,  and  which  I  must  view  with  abhorrence  and  reprehend 
with  severity.  For  the  present,  the  communication  of  them  will  rest  in  my 
own  bosom,  unless  some  further  agitation  of  the  matter  shall  make  a  disclos- 
ure necessary. 


HUDSON    RIVER   AND  RAILROAD. 


43 


"I  am  much  at  a  loss  to  conceive. what  part  of  my  conduct  could  have 
given  encouragement  to  such  an  address,  which  to  me  seems  big  with  the 
greatest  mischiefs  that  can  befall  my  country.  If  T  am  not  deceived  in  the 
knowledge  of  myself,  you  could  not  have  found  a  person  to  whom  your 
schemes  are  more  disagreeable.  At  the  same  time,  to  do  justice  to  my  own 
feelings,  I  must  add,%at  no  man  possesses  a  more  sincere  wish  to  see  ample 
justice  done  to  the  army  than  I  do ;  and  as  far  as  my  power  and  influence  in 
a  constitutional  way  extend,  they  shall  be  employed  to  the  utmost  of  my 
abilities  to  effect  it,  should  there  be  occasion.  Let  me  conjure  you  then,  if 
you  have  any  regard  for  your  country,  concern  for  yourself  or  posterity,  or 
respect  for  me,  to  banish  these  thoughts  from  your  mind,  and  never  commu- 
nicate, as  from  yourself  or  any  one  else,  a  sentiment  of  the  like  nature. 

"  I  am,  sir,  &c, 

"  George  Washington." 

Low  Point,  sixty-four  miles,  is  in  the  north  part  of  the  town  of  Fishkill. 
It  v>  a  small  settlement. 


Tunnel  at  New  Hamburg. 


New  Hamburg,  sixty-seven  miles,  is  situated  directly  at  the  mouth  of 
"Wappinger's  Creek,  a  considerable  stream,  which  has  its  rise  in  the  north- 
east part  of  Dutchess  county,  near  the  Connecticut  line.  The  village  is  situ- 
ated upon  both  sides  of  the  river's  mouth,  across  which  there  is  a  good  bridge. 
A  ferry  connects  it  with  Hampton,  across  the  river. 

Hampton,  opposite  New  Hamburg,  is  a  small  settlement,  in  the  south  part 
of  the  town  of  Marlborough.  Two  miles  above  is  Milton,  another  village  in 
the  same  town. 

Milton  Ferry,  or  Barnegat,  sixty-nine  miles  and  a  half  from  New  York, 

.    .  4* 


44 


HUDSON   RIVER  AND  RAILROAD, 


in  the  township  of  Poughkeepsie,  is  noted  for  its  great  number  of  lime-kilns. « 
A  ferry  connects  it  with  Milton,  on  the  west  bank  of  the  river. 

Poughkeepsie,  seventy-four  miles  from  New  York,  is  the  "half-way" 
station  upon  the  Hudson  River  Railroad.  It  will  justly  rank  with  the  first 
cities  in  New  York  or  New  England.  Occupying  an  elevated  position, 
it  is  seen  conspicuously,  both  in  ascending  and  descending  the  stream.  The 
river  bank  is  of  considerable  height,  and  projects  into  the  stream,  forming  two 
promontories.  The  southern  one,  termed  "  Call  Rock,"  so  covers  the  landing 
that  it  is  not  seen  from  steamboats  until  they  are  quite  near  the  wharf. 

Poughkeepsie  was  settled  by  the  Dutch"  in  1705.  It  is  now  the  court 
town  of  Dutchess  county,  next  to  the  richest  in  the  state.  The  city  is  very 
compactly  built,  spacious,  and  well  paved,  the  population  about  fifteen  thou- 
sand. Like  Newburg,  this  place  is  a  general  trading  depot  for  the  large 
number  of  flourishing  country  villages  in  the  immediate  neighborhood.  On 
a  busy  day,  the  throng  upon  Main-street  would  do  no  discredit  to  the  prin- 
cipal thoroughfares  of  a  large  city.  • 

The  Collegiate  School  is  pleasantly  situated  upon  College  lEIill,  half  a  mile 
north-east  of  the  village.  Its  location  is  one  of  unrivalled  beauty,  com- 
manding an.  extensive  prospect  of  the  river  and  surrounding  country.  In- 
deed, the  stranger  can  hardly  ascend  any  moderately  elevated  ground  in  the 
neighborhood,  —  and  we  may  say  the  same  of  the  entire  distance  upon  the 
banks  of  the  Hudson,  —  without  witnessing  a  continual  succession  of  fine 
landscape  views.    And  herein  consists  the  charm  of  Hudson  River  scenery. 

A  small  creek,  called  "  Fall  Creek,"  after  meandering  over  the  plain  back 
of  the  village,  falls  into  the  Hudson  just  above  the  railroad  station,  by  a  suc- 
cession of  rapids  which  furnish  considerable  water-power.  This  was  one  of 
the  most  difficult  sections  upon  the  road  to  build.  Several  ferry-boats  ply 
between  Poughkeepsie  and  the  villages  upon  the  opposite  shore.' 

New  Paltz,  a  small  village  directly  opposite  Poughkeepsie,  is  the  landing 
for  passengers  for  the  town  of  the  same  name,  lying  some  eight  miles  west. 
It  has  a  ferry  to  Poughkeepsie. 

Hyde  Park,  eighty-one  mile*.  Both  the  village  and  the  landing  are 
directly  upon  the  river.  There  are  several  fine  country-seats  upon  the  banks 
north  and  south  of  the  village.  Near  this  place  the  Crumelbow  Creek  falls 
into  the  Hudson,  and  affords  a  considerable  water-power. 

Pelham,  nearly  opposite  Hyde  Park,  is  connected  with  it  by  a  ferry.  It 
is  partly  in  the  town  of  Esopus. 

Staatsburg,  eighty-four  miles  and  a  half.  This  is  a  small  village.  The 
station  here  is  half  a  mile  from  the  river,  one  of  the  greatest  detours  upon  the 
line. 

RniNEBECK,  ninety  miles,  is  a  place  of  considerable  size,  situated  upon  a 
fertile  plain,  two  miles  from  the  river.  The  station  is  at  Rhinebeck  Landing, 
where  the  steamboats  land  and  receive  passengers. 


HUDSON   RIVER  AND  RAILROAD. 


45 


Rondout,  directly  opposite,  upon  the  mouth  of  Eondout  Creek,  or  Wall- 
kill  River,  is  connected  with  it  by  a  ferry.  Two  miles  north-west  is  Kings- 
ton, a  large  and  thriving  village.  Two  miles  above  Rondout,  upon  the 
V\Tallkill,  is  the  village  of  Eddyville,  the  termination  of  the  Delaware  and 
Hudson  Canal.  These  villages  are  all  in  the  town  of  Kingston,  and  are 
rapidly  increasing  in  population  and  wealth. 

The  Delaware  and  Hudson  Canal,  beginning  at  Eddyville,  ascends  the 
valley  of  the  Wallkill,  and  passes  into  the  valley  of  the  Nevisink  River, 
which  it  follows  to  its  junction  with  the  Delaware,  at  Port  Jervis.  It  then 
follows  up  this  river  to  its  junction  with  the  Lackawaxen  ;  thence  up  the 
latter  river  to  its  termination  at  Honesdale,  Penn.  Its  length  is  109  miles, 
with  950  feet  of  rise  and  falL  by  106  locks.  It  cost  two  millions  two  hun 
dred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars.  It  is  used  chiefly  for  the  transportation  of 
coal.  By  using  the  railroad  extending  from  Honesdale  to  the  Wyoming 
coal-field,  at  Carbondale,  sixteen  miles,  it  affords  a  cheap  and  direct  entrance 
for  coal  into  the  heart  of  the  state. 

After  the  taking  of  Forts  Montgomery  and  Clinton,  in- 1777,  [see  Peeks- 
kill,]  part  of  the  British  fleet  ascended  the  Hudson  to  this  place,  where  the 
commander,  General  Yaughan,  caused  the  village  to  be  burned,  and  great 
quantities  of  provisions  and  stores  to  be  destroyed.  Here  his  further  prog- 
ress was  stayed  by  the  appalling  news  of  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne's  whole 
army,  and  he  made  a  hasty  retreat  with  his  vessels  to  Xew  York.  Soon 
after,  the  Americans  fortified  West  Point,  and  the  towns  above  that  fort  were 
never  afterwards  troubled  by  the  incursions  of  the  enemy. 

Barrytown,  or  Lower  Red  Hook  Landing,  ninety-five  miles  and  a  half, 
and  Tivoli.  or  Upper  Red  Hook  Landing,  one  hundred  miles,  are  both 
within  the  town  of  Red  Hook,  some  miles  from  the  central  village.  Oppo- 
site Tivoli,  upon  the  mouth  of  Esopus  Creek,  is  the  flourishing  town  of  Sau- 
gerties.  This  is  a  place  of  quite  recent  and  rapid  growth.  The  creek  has  a 
fall  of  47  feet,  which  furnishes  a  large  amount  of  water-power..  Several 
manufacturing  establishments  have  been  erected,  besides  which  there  are  the 
Ulster  iron  works,  white  lead  works,  and  an  axe  manufactory.  A  hand- 
some bridge  has  been  thrown  across  the  creek,  uniting  the  two  portions  of  the 
village,  standing  upon  both  sides  of  the  stream.  There  is  constant  commu- 
nication with  Tivoli  by  means  of  a  ferry. 

Germaxtown,  or  East  Camp,  one  hundred  and  four  miles.  This  town 
was  settled  by  the  Palatines,  in  1710. 

Oak  Hill,  one  hundred  and  eleven  miles.  This  station  is  in  the  southern 
extremity  of  Greenport.  Passengers  for  Catskill  leave  the  cars  at  this  station 
crossing  the  Hudson  by  a  ferry-boat  which  plies  between  the  two  places. 

Catskill  or  Kaatskill.  as  the  Dutch  still  call  it,  the  seat  of  justice  of 
Greene  county,  stands  upon  the  banks  of  Catskill  Creek,  near  its. confluence 
with  the  Hudson.    The  mouth  of  the  creek  makes  a  fine  harbor  for  sloops 


46 


HUDSON    RIVER   AND  RAILROAD. 


and  boats ;  and  a  long,  narrow  dyke,  walled  with  stone,  connects  the  village 
with  a  small  island  near  the  middle  of  the  river,  affording  a  commodious 
landing  for  the  steamboats.  It  is  essentially  a  very  Dutch  appearing  village  ; 
and  here,  as  well  as  at  many  other  Dutch  towns  upon  the  Hudson,  the  old 
inhabitants  still  retain  their  mother  tongue,  and  the  perpetual  jabber,  so  easy 
to  recognize,  is  frequently  heard.  It  should  be  added  that,  besides  the  lan- 
guage, most  of  the  descendants  of  the  Dutch  retain  also  the  frugality  of  their 
forefathers. 

About  a  mile  from  the  village  is  a  limestone  cave,  said  to  have  an  extent 
cf  nearly  half  a  mile. 


Catskill  Mountains,  from  Chatham. 


■  From  Catskill,  stages  run  several  times  each  day  to  the  Catskill  Moun- 
tain House,  a  distance  of  twelve  miles.  The  time  required  for  the  ascent  ig 
four  hours ;  half  the  time  being  sufficient  to  return.  The  journey  up  the 
mountain  Is  safe,  yet  rather  tedious  and  difficult.  For  a  greater  part  of  the 
way  the  road  is  very  uneven,  and  the  last  portion  of  it  a  very  steep  ascent 
in  a  zig-zag  direction.  When  once  there,  the  traveller  will  be  amply  rewarded 
for  his  exertions. 

"  The '  Mountain  House  is  a  large,  irregular  building,  but  spacious,  and 
comfortably  furnished.  It  stands  upon  the  table  rock,  a  few  yards  from  the 
sheer  verge  —  an  elevation  of  eighteen  hundred  feet  above  the  apparent  plain, 
and  twenty-seven  hundred  above  the  level  of  the  river.  There  is  a  narrow 
strip  of  green  just  in  front,  under  the  long  and  capacious  piazza,  beautifully 
ornamented  with  young  fir  and  cedar  trees,  and  a  variety  of  shrubs.  Then 
comes  a  strip  of  bare  rock,  overlooking  the  awful  abyss. 

"  A  sea  of  woods  is  at  your  feet,  but  so  far  below,  that  the  large  hills  seem 
but  slight  heavings  of  the  green  billowy  mass ;  before  you  lies  a  vast  land- 
scape, stretching  far  as  the  eye  can  take  in  the  picture ;  a  map  of  earth,  with 
its  fields,  its  meadows,  its  forests,  and  its  villages  and  cities  scattered  in  the 
distance ;  its  streams  and  lakes  diminished,  like  the  dwellings  of  man,  into 
insignificance.  Through  the  midst  winds  the  sweeping  river,  the  mighty 
Hudson,  lessened  to  a  rill ;  or  it  might  be  likened  to  a  riband  laid  over  a 
.ground  of  green.    Still  further  on  are  the  swelling  uplands,  and  then  far 


HUDSON    RIVER    AXD  RAILROAD. 


Albany  city,  the  capital  of  New  York,  is  directly  opposite  Greenbush,  with 
which  there  is  constant  communication  by  means  of  a  ferry.  The  city  is 
built  upon  a  flat  alluvial  tract  of  land,  along  the  margin  of  the  river,  from  15 
to  100  rods  wide,  back  of  which  it  rises  abruptly,  attaining,  within  the  space 
of  half  a  mile,  an  elevation  of  153  feet,  and  in  one  mile  220  feet  above  the 
river.  Beyond  this  the  surface  is  level.  The  older  portions  of  the  city  are 
laid. out  very  irregularly,  and  some  of 1  them  are  very^  narrow.  The  streets 
recently  built  are  more  spacious  and  regular.    State  street  is  from  150  to 


Greenbush,  Station, from  Albany. 


170  feet  wide,  and  has  a  steep  ascent  to  the  top  of  the  hill.  Many  of  the 
private,  and  more  especially  the  public,  buildings  of  Albany  have  fine  situa- 
tions, and  overlook  an  extensive  and  a  beautiful  prospect. 

The  Capitol,  which  stands  at  the  head  of  State  street,  on  the  hill,  is  a  large 
stone  edifice,  115  feet  long,  and  90  feet  broad,  fronting  east,  on  a  fine  square. 
It  contains  spacious  and  richly  furnished  apartments  for  the  accommodation 
of  the  Senate  and  Assembly,  and  various  rooms  for  other  public  purposes. 
From  the  observatory  at  the  top,  which  is  accessible  to  visitors,  a  fine  view 
of  the  city  and  surrounding  country  is  obtained.  The  City  Hall  is  on  the 
east  side  of  the  same  square,  facing  west;  and  is  constructed  with  marble, 
with  a  gilded  dome.  The  Albany  Academy,  built  of  freestone,  adjoining 
the  square,  has  a  park  in  front  of  it ;  and  both  squares  are  surrounded  by  an 
iron  fence,  and  constitute  a  large  and  beautiful  public  ground,  laid  out  with 
walks,  and  ornamented  with  trees.  The  Exchange,  at  the  foot  of  State  street, 
is  a  commodious  building  of  granite,  constructed  a  few  years  since.  The  Post-  ' 
office  is  in  this  building.  It  has  also  an  extensive  reading-room,  supplied 
ith  papers  and  periodicals,  both  American  and  foreign,  to  which  strangers 
admitted  without  charge. 

'  •'^n  of  Albany  for  trade  and  commerce  can  hardly  be  surpassed. 

1  "^vantages,  railroads  now  centre  here  from  each  of  the 
he  Erie  and  Champlain  Canals  add  immensely  to 

east  b       '<f  the  river,  at  the  head  of  tide 
-isselaer  count v     T  '  V 


HUDSON    B.IVER   AND  RAILROAD. 


right  angles,  and  planted  with  trees.  Mount  Ida,  directly  in  the  rear  of  the 
south  part  of  the  city,  and  Mount  Olympus  in  the  north,  are  distinguished 
eminences,  affording  fine  views  of  the  country.  The  city  is  abundantly  sup- 
plied with  water,  by  iron  pipes,  from  a  basin  in  Lansingburg,  75  feet  above 
the  city.    It  has  numerous  hotels,  some  of  which  are  admirably  kept. 

West  Troy,  a  suburb  of  Troy,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  is  a  man- 
ufacturing village,  rapidly  increasing  in  business  and  importance.  A  fine 
macadamized  road  extends  from  this  place  to  Albany,  a  distance  of  six 
miles.    Coaches  run  hourly  over  the  road* 

Like  her  rival,  Troy  has  her  morning  and  evening  line  of  steamboats  to 
New  York,  which  are  in  no  degree  behind  the  Albany  boats  in  comfort, 
speed  or  elegance.  The  fare  to  New  York  is  usually  the  same  from  Loth 
cities. 

Saratoga  Springs  are  easily  reached  from  either  Albany  or  Troy.  From 
Albany,  by  the  Albany  and  Schenectady  Railroad,  sixteen  miles;  thence, 
by  the  Saratoga  and  Schenectady  Railroad,  twenty-one  miles,  —  total,  thirty- 
seven  miles.  From  Troy  there  are*  two  routes,  viz.,  one  by  way  of  the 
Troy  and  Schenectady  Railroad,  twenty  miles,  and  thence  as  by  Albany 
route,  —  forty-one  miles ;  the  other  by  the  Rensselaer  and  Saratoga  Railroad, 
terminating  at  Balston  Spa,  twenty-four  miles,  thence  by  Saratoga  Railroad, 
seven  miles,  —  total,  thirty-one  miles. 

The  route  west  from  Albany  is  over  the  Ceriral  railroad,  to  Sche- 
nectady 17  miles,  Utica  95,  Rome  109,  Syracuse  148,  Rochester  229. 
Here  a  choice  of  routes  is  offered  ;  the  Southern,  to  Buffalo  298,  Dun* 
kirk  339,  Cleveland  481,  Toledo  777,  Chicago  836.  The  Northern,  to 
Niagara  Falls  305,  Detroit  535,  Chicago  813.  From  this  Metropolis 
of  the  West,  roads  radiate  in  every  direction  to  meet  the  wants  of  the 
traveller.  The  distance  from  New  York  to  Chicago  via  the  Erie  rail- 
road is  958  miles 


HUDSON    RIVER   AND  RAILROAD. 


47 


along  the  horizon  mountains  piled  upon  mountains,  melting  into  the  distance, 
rising  range  above  range,  till  the  last  and  loftiest  fades  into  the  blue  of  the 
sky.  Over  this  magnificent  panorama  the  morning  sun  pours  a  misty  radi- 
ance, half  veiling,  yet  adding  to  its  beauty,  and  tinting  the  Hudson  with 
silver.  Here  and  there  the  bright  river  is  dotted  with  sails,  and  sometimes  a 
steamboat  can  be  seen  winding  its  apparency  slow  way  along.  The  clouds, 
that  fling  their  fitful  shadows  over  the  country  below,  are  on  a  level  with  you  i 
—  even  the  birds  seldom  soar  higher  than  your  feet ;  the  resting-place  of  the 
songster,  whose  flight  can  no  longer  be  traced  from  the  plain,  is  still  far  below 
you." 

Two  miles  from  the  hotel  are  the  Kaaterskill  Falls,  upon  a  stream  flowing 
from  two  lakes,  each  about  a  mile  and  a  half  in  circumference,  and  about  half  a 
mile  in  the  rear  of  the  house.  After  a  west  course  of  about  a  mile  and  a 
half,  the  waters  fall  perpendicularly  175  feet,  and,  pausing  momentarily  upon 
a  ledge  of  rock,  precipitate  themselves  85  feet  more,  making  the  whole  de- 
scent of  the  cataract  260  feet.  Below  this  point  the  current  is  lost  in  a  dark 
ravine,  through  which  it  seeks  the  valley  of  the  Catskill.  The  water-fall, 
with  all  its  boldness,  forms,  however,  but  one  of  the  interesting  features  of  the 
scene.  From  the  edge  of  the  falls  is  beheld  a  dreary  chasm,  whose  steep 
sides,  covered  with  dark  ivy  and  thick  summer  foliage,  seem  like  a  green  bed 
formed  for  the  waters.  Making  a  circuit  from  this  spot,  and  descending 
about  midway  of  the  first  falls,  the  spectator  enters  an  immense  natural  am- 
phitheatre behind  the  cascade,  roofed  by  a  magnificent  ceiling  of  rock,  hav- 
ing in  front  the  falling  torrent,  and  beyond  it  the  wild  mountain  dell,  over 
which  the  clear  blue  sky  is  visible.  The  falls  on  the  west  branch  of  the 
Kaaterskill  have  a  perpendicular  descent  of  more  than  120  feet,  and  the 
stream  descends  in  rapids  and  cascades  400  feet  in  100  rods.  The  Kaaterskill 
has  a  devious  and  very  rapid  course,  of  about  eight  miles,  to  the  Catskill,  near 
the  town.  The  falls  are  best  seen  from  below,  and  the  view  from  the  Pine 
Orchard  is  better  between  three  o'clock  and  sunset  than  in  the  middle  of 
the  day. 

Hudson,  one  hundred  and  fifteen  miles,  a  city,  port  of  entry,  and  capital 
of  Columbia  county,  stands  at  the  head  of  ship  navigation.  The  main  portion 
of  the  town  is  built  upon  a  bold  promontory,  sixty  feet  above  the  river,  com- 
manding a  fine  view  of  the  surrounding  country. 

The  city  is  regularly  laid  out,  the  streets  crossing  each  other  at  right 
angles,  with  the  exception  of  two  near  the  river,  which  follow  the  direction 
of  the  shore  The  main  street  extends  south-east  more  than  a  mile,  to 
Prospect  Hill,  which  is  200  feet 'high. 

Near  the  station  and  steamboat  landing  are  several  warehouses,  which,  with 
the  steamboats  and  shipping  at  the  wharves,  afford  ample  evidence  of  the 
enterprise  of  the  inhabitants.  The  Hudson  and  Berkshire  Railroad,  thirty 
three  miles  in  length,  extending  to  West  Stockbridge,  Mass.,  where  it  unites 


48 


HUDSON   RIVER   AND  RAILROAD 


with  the  Western  and  Housatonic  roads,  terminates  at  Hudson.  Distance  t*» 
Boston  by  this  route,  193  miles.  Passengers  for  Lebanon  Springs  take 
this  route  as  far  as  Edwards'  Depot,  which  is  but  eight  miles  from  the  Springs. 
From  thence  they  are  taken  by  stage. 

Athens,  opposite  Hudson,  is  connected  with  it  by  a  ferry.  The  village  is 
built  along  the  shore  about  a  mile  and  a  half.  The  ground  rises  gradually 
from  the  shore,  affording  some  fine  sites  for  country-seats.  The  shore  is  bold 
and  rocky,  ind  the  channel  close  to  the  village. 

Stockport,  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles,  lies  at  the  mouth  of  Kinder- 
hook  Creek,  a  stream  of  considerable  size,  having  its  rise  in  Hancock,  Mass. 
Within  three  miles  of  the  Hudson,  this  stream  falls  160  feet,  affording,  to  a 
limited  extent,  water-power  for  several  mills.  At  Columbiaville,  at  the 
mouth  of  Claverack  Creek,  which  falls  into  the  Kinderhook  near  Stockport, 
there  are  several  large  manufactories,  and  quite  a  village. 

Stuyvesant,  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  miles,  is  a  flourishing  village, 
that  sends  large  quantities  of  produce  annually  to  the  New  .York  market. 
Kinderhook  passengers  land  at  this  place.  Kinderhook  is  the  birth-place  of 
Ex-President  Martin  Yan  Buren,  who  now  resides  about  two  miles  south  of 
the  village.    It  is  six  miles  from  the  river. 

Coxsackie,  one  mile  south  of  Stuyvesant,  on  the  opposite  shore,  is  a  place 
of  business.  Nutter  Hook,  directly  opposite,  is  a  bustling  little  place,  and 
has  some  shipping. 

New  Baltimore,  four  miles  above.  Coxsackie,  is  a  thriving  village,  a  land- 
ing for  the  river  boats.  Above  this  place  the  river  is  dotted  with  a  large 
number  of  small  islands,  which,  when  covered  with  foliage,  present  a  fine 
prospect. 

Schodack,  one  hundred  and  thirty-one  miles,  and  Coeyman's  directly 
opposite,  are  small  villages. 

Castleton,  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  miles.  There  is  a  bar  forminfr 
in  the  river,  near  this  place,  that  threatens  considerable  injury  to  naviga- 
tion. Indeed,  the  river,  at  several  points  above,  at  low  water,  is  difficult  tc 
aseend,  in  consequence  of  sand-bars  which  are  continually  changing.  A 
large  amount  of  money  has  been  expended  in  deepening  the  channel,  but  it 
soon  fills  up  again. 

Greenbush,  one  hundred  and  #  forty-four  miles,  is  the  northern  terminus 
of  the  Hudson  River  Railroad.  The  Troy  and  Greenbush  road,  six  miles  in 
length,  is  run  by  the  former  company  under  a  lease.  Passengers  can  cross 
the  ferry  here  to  Albany,  or  continue  on  to  Troy,  trains  being  run  every 
hour,  and  immediately  upon  the  arrival  of  the  New  York  trains.  The 
western  terminus  of  the  Albany  and  Boston  is  also  at  Greenbush.  Exten- 
sive depot  accommodations  have  already  been  erected  here,  which  will  soon 
be  increased,  and  the  vast  business  in  freighting  done  by  the  various  roads 
will  tend  to  render  this  village  a  very  important  point. 


MAP  of  the  HUDSON  RIVER. 


